Buying a car is not like buying a radio; you cannot return it to the store for a refund if you do not like it, or if it has a manufacturing defect. In fact, for many years, if you purchased an automobile that came from the factory with defects, you were just stuck. You could try to get the dealer to repair the problem, but if the problem continued and the dealer could not repair it, you were out of luck.

In 1982, the luck of owners of so-called “lemons” changed for the better, as California and Connecticut passed the nation’s first “lemon laws.”

These laws, spawned by consumers who had waged tireless battles against major auto companies, allowed owners of defective automobiles to seek compensation or replacement with the help of their respective states. These laws swept like wildfire throughout the country, and now all 50 states have some form of the lemon law.

The specifics of the lemon laws will vary from state to state, but in general, they define a “lemon” as a vehicle that:

• Has a “nonconformity” that affects the safety, use, or value of the vehicle, and
• The nonconformity has not been successfully repaired after a “reasonable” number of attempts, and/or
• The vehicle has been out of service for a total of a certain number of days for repair of the nonconformity.

• Make sure that you document everything relating to repairs of the vehicle, including when and where it was repaired, who signed the work order and what work was done.
• You should contact the manufacturer in writing, alerting them to the nature of the problem.
• You should consult with your state’s Attorney General’s office to learn how your state’s law affects you directly.