As consumers, we tend to put a lot of stock in the businesses we choose to engage with. For instance, when purchasing a new car, the average consumer has relative peace of mind knowing that their investment is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. If a newly purchased vehicle starts to act out of whack, we know we can simply take a trip to the dealership where the vehicle was purchased to sort things out. After all, the vehicle lemon law in Texas protects consumers against the purchase of vehicles with a defect or other condition that impairs the vehicle’s use or resale value. But what can you do when you attempt to visit the dealership you purchased your vehicle from only to find that it’s closed or otherwise unable to repair your vehicle?
The value of your vehicle is essentially guaranteed, so when it fails to live up to the standards for quality set forth by the manufacturer, you have the ability to receive relief in the form of a repair, replacement, or repurchase. By partnering with the experienced lemon law lawyer at the Law Office of Darin Siefkes, PLLC, you can avoid missteps and mistakes in the claims process, even if the dealership you purchased the vehicle from is no longer in business.
Finding a New Dealer
Fortunately for consumers, the manufacturers most often responsible for producing lemons, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Jeep, etc., are incredibly popular, meaning that finding another dealership under the same manufacturer in your area shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Getting there may be a challenge, but having your vehicle repaired by an authorized dealership is crucial for satisfying the vehicle lemon law in Texas. And you never know, another authorized dealership may be better equipped to properly repair your vehicle. Remember, as difficult as it may be to carry on without reliable transportation, attempts to have a third-party vendor repair your vehicle could result in the loss of your right to potential lemon law relief.
In the event that you’ve misplaced your repair records, any authorized dealership under the same manufacturer should have access to them online and be more than willing to provide you with copies. Be sure to consult a vehicle lemon law attorney in Texas if a dealership refuses to provide repair invoices, or worse, provides false documentation.
Confirming Your Car Is a Lemon
Once you’ve found another dealership under the same manufacturer, it’s business as usual. As stipulated by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), confirming that your car is a lemon requires, among other things, that you give the dealer “a reasonable number of attempts to repair the defect or condition” covered by a manufacturer’s written warranty. How many attempts? Four is the magic number. If after four attempts an authorized dealership fails to repair “the same defect within the first 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first,” you’ve got a lemon on your hands, and you’re going to need the assistance of a vehicle lemon lawyer in Texas.
If you would like to speak with an experienced vehicle lemon law attorney in Texas about issues you’re having with your new car, please submit our free case evaluation form today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.