The Texas Lemon Law is a consumer protection statute in the state of Texas. It provides consumers with a process for seeking compensation when they purchase a defective vehicle. As a Texas Lemon Law firm, we provide insight below into the Texas Lemon Law and how it works.
What Is the Texas Lemon Law?
The Texas Lemon Law gives legal rights to buyers who have purchased defective cars, trucks, ATVs, towable recreational vehicles, and motor homes. It provides consumers with a method to seek compensation in cases of recurring or multiple instances of substantial defects that cannot be fixed after numerous attempts. It is mainly applicable to manufacturers.
How Long Does the Lemon Law Protect Consumers?
The Texas Lemon Law generally gives protection for people who have bought a vehicle and are dissatisfied with it because of certain defects that occurred within the first 24 months or 24,000 miles (whichever comes earlier) of the vehicle’s life.
Who is Covered by the Lemon Law?
The Texas Lemon Law covers people who have purchased a Texas motor vehicle that has a defect that is explicitly covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Typically, this law applies to any new vehicle purchased from a dealer.
What Defects Are Covered?
Defects that significantly impact the value or use of the vehicle or make it unsafe to drive are covered. If the defect cannot be remedied or has not been remedied after several attempts, it may be covered. Examples include issues with air conditioning systems, engines, and transmissions.
How Do I File a Lemon Law Claim?
Texas law requires that notice is sent to the manufacturer before starting other legal steps. Then, a claim can be filed with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
The department reviews your claim thoroughly for compliance with the statute and, if necessary, sends it to the manufacturer for review and response. The manufacturer will have an opportunity to respond to your claim, which will likely argue that the vehicle is not a lemon.
When this happens, the lawyer can take further action. Note that there are time limitations on when a Texas lemon law claim must be filed. Do not delay in contacting your lawyer if you think your vehicle is a lemon to ensure that the process starts in a timely manner.
Contact The Law Office of Darin Siefkes for help with your Texas lemon law claim.
If you think you might have a lemon, get a Free Case Evaluation today!