The Lemon Paper Trail
We’re going to assume you’ve been maintaining an accurate and complete auto repair log since day one with your new car. If you didn’t, you’re going to wish you did when a significant repair issue occurs. The first time you pick up your vehicle from the mechanic and realize the problem has not been resolved, it’s time to go into a more serious documentation mode.
- Take notes of conversations you have with the dealership about the issue. If the conversations are over the phone, taking notes is easy. In the presence of the technician, it may not be. At least write down key phrases and fill in the blanks immediately after the conversation. Unless you know the law, do not use a tape recorder unless everyone involved is aware you are doing so.
- Ask about Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and make sure that request is written on the work order.
- Keep a timeline of each repair attempt including dates, the number of days your vehicle was out of service and all of the corresponding repair paper work.
- Be respectful of the technicians, but realize they don’t necessarily know the details of your state’s lemon laws. It’s human nature to defend the work you’ve done, but it’s your car. If you’re not satisfied with the resolution of the problem, don’t accept explanations that feel wrong.
- Don’t delay repairs under warranty. As the time period of your warranty draws near, make sure any issues are resolved or you’ve made an attempt to resolve them. Depending on state lemon laws, your rights may extend past warranty if the first repair attempt occurred under warranty.
We’re not trying to make a case for or against dealership garages, but there are some common practices known throughout the industry. If you have routine maintenance done at an independent garage because of the savings of 33 to 50 percent compared to dealership rates, you may not get the best the dealer has to offer when you take it in for warrantied repairs.
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.
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