Purchasing a new or used car is a significant investment, and for many people, it’s one of the most expensive purchases they will make outside of buying a home. However, despite your best efforts, you sometimes end up with a lemon, a car that just won’t work right, no matter how many times it’s “fixed”.
Fortunately, lemon laws exist to protect you. The tricky part is knowing when your car qualifies as one. Let’s break down the key red flags that your ride might be a lemon, and what you can do to fight back.
- Frequent repairs
One of the most obvious signs that your vehicle might be a lemon is the need for frequent repairs, especially soon after purchase. While it’s normal for older cars to need maintenance, a lemon often requires constant trips to the mechanic for serious issues like engine failure, transmission problems, or electrical malfunctions.
If these repairs are not minor or easily fixed and continue to happen even after service, that’s a major red flag, and you should talk to this Los Angeles lemon law attorney to help you with your lemon law case.
- The same problem repeats after repairs
Have you ever had an issue fixed, only for it to show up again a few days later? And then again? That’s another key sign that your car is a lemon. It’s especially suspicious if the same problem comes back after multiple repair attempts. Lemon laws in many states often use this repetition, typically three or four failed repair attempts for the same problem, as a criterion for declaring a vehicle a lemon.
- Major safety defects
Any defect that compromises the safety of the driver or passengers is extremely serious. If your brakes are acting up, your steering feels off, your airbags have issues, or your electrical system is not functioning correctly, don’t ignore it. Safety problems are serious, and if your vehicle can’t be reliably fixed, it may be time to start looking into your rights under your state’s lemon laws.
- The manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t seem to help
A manufacturer’s warranty is supposed to cover defects and protect you from getting stuck with a faulty vehicle. However, if your warranty claims keep getting denied, or the dealer isn’t addressing the problems after multiple visits, that’s another sign of a lemon car. A warranty should offer peace of mind, not endless battles for coverage. If the manufacturer or dealership drags their feet or avoids responsibility, it may be time to escalate the situation.
- Vehicle history report raises concerns
If you bought a used car and skipped the vehicle history report, go check it now. Services like Carfax or AutoCheck can reveal if the car has been in an accident, suffered flood damage, or was already branded a lemon and resold. Any one of these issues can affect the integrity and reliability of the vehicle. A history of repeated ownership changes or undisclosed major repairs is also a red flag.
Endnote
A lemon car can be a financial and safety nightmare, but knowing the warning signs helps you take action early. If your vehicle has repeated unfixable issues, long repair times, or safety defects, you may have a lemon law claim.
Start by keeping a paper trail. Write down every repair, every time your car was out of service, and every conversation with the dealer or manufacturer. Next, check out your state’s lemon laws. They vary by location, but many require the manufacturer to refund your money or replace the car if it meets certain conditions.
