The best advice we can give you is to contact and/or hire an attorney as soon as you can afford to. Technically, you don’t need an attorney unless the issue goes all the way to the courts. If money is an issue, the federal law allows you to collect attorney fees if you win in the state courts. If time and hassle is your issue, an attorney has the potential to resolve your issue to your advantage more effectively and faster than you could on your own.

If you suspect your vehicle is a lemon, contact us using the form on the right and we’ll help you locate a lemon lawyer.

Yes and no. Yes, for all repairs covered under the warranty. If you opt not to use the dealer where you purchased your car, you still have to go to an “authorized dealer.” No for oil changes and most regular maintenance, but check your warranty before you make that decision. If you use a non-authorized mechanic for repairs under warranty, you will probably negate your warranty and, consequently, your rights under lemon laws. Some aftermarket product installations have the same effect.

If you suspect your vehicle is a lemon, contact us by filling out the form on the right and we’ll help you locate a lemon lawyer.

Very important. That paperwork is your “evidence” once you start lemon procedures. You also need to make sure the paperwork properly represents your complaint about the car. Once you think you may have a lemon issue, double-up your documentation with notes.

If you suspect your vehicle is a lemon, contact us using the form on the right and we’ll help you locate a lemon lawyer.

Some do. Check the fine print in your state’s lemon laws to find out for sure. If the manufacturer’s warranty is still in effect, as well as your state’s lemon law time limit, all pertinent laws still apply. If you bought the vehicle as a “certified” used car from a dealer, it probably has a short warranty. Finally, your used car is covered if you purchased, or the car came with, a manufacturer’s extended warranty still in effect. Again, check your state law. If the warranty is still in effect, but your state time limit has run out, you could bring suit in state court under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. For that possibility, your best bet is to check with an attorney.

If you suspect your vehicle is a lemon, contact us using the form on the right and we’ll help you locate a lemon lawyer.

You may be out of luck. Check the information on Technical Service Bulletins(TSB) and Secret Warranties. In brief, manufacturers have recognized defects that don’t quality as full recall issues. They also have developed technical information to correct the defect. However, this information is not communicated to the owner and often not communicated directly to the dealerships. There are websites that can help you track down TSBs and the existence of secret warranties — which are exactly what they sound like: extensions of the vehicle’s warranty for a specific defect. You’re not doomed, but you’ll have to do some digging.

If you suspect your vehicle is a lemon, contact us using the form on the right and we’ll help you locate a lemon lawyer.

You can’t. Under the state lemon laws, resolution of lemon issues is between you and the manufacturer, starting with a Letter of Notification. You can keep trying, but the dealer has no authority to resolve a lemon car problem.

If you suspect your vehicle is a lemon, contact us using the form on the right and we’ll help you locate a lemon lawyer.

Check your state’s lemon law. In most cases, the time frame is one to two years or the manufacturer’s warranty, whichever comes first. Some drivetrain warranties run for three to five years, in which case the state’s time limits will be in effect. The important thing to remember is to check out your state laws at the first hint of an on-going, possible lemon law issue.

If you suspect your vehicle is a lemon, contact us using the form on the right and we’ll help you locate a lemon lawyer.

It very well could. Check out the list of possible defects. The litmus test for a lemon issue is “a substantial problem that negatively affects the value, safety and/or function of the vehicle.” Some issues like those in the question may seem minor, but they would impact the value of the vehicle. An example: There was a period of time in the 90s when a manufacturer had issues with the primer bonding with the metal and the finished paint binding with the primer. The result was peeling paint on surfaces with the most sun exposure. The only real fix was stripping the vehicles down to the metal and starting over. Okay, the cars ran fine, no safety or function issues; but try reselling a car with terminal mange and see how much below Blue Book you’ll get.

If you suspect your vehicle is a lemon,contact us using the form on the right and we’ll help you locate a lemon lawyer.