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My new car is faulty: What can I do?

On Behalf of | Feb 6, 2018 | Firm News, Personal Injury

Buying a new car is an exciting experience, and you will have had high hopes about finally making the purchase. However, what if, after you bought it, and the found that something doesn’t feel right? Perhaps the brakes are not as effective as they should be, there is a strange smell or sound when driving or the paint job is not up to the standard that it should be at.

The answer is that you will first need to qualify your car as a “lemon.” If this is legally true, then you will have grounds for protection under consumer protection laws.

In order for a vehicle to be legally defined as a lemon, it must have a defect that is substantial and that is covered by your warranty agreement. You should have made reasonable attempts to rectify this defect under the vehicle’s warranty protection. However, if the problem is persisting, then it is likely that your car will be considered a lemon.

What is meant by a substantial defect?

A substantial defect is something that can affect the safety of the car. This could be bad steering, gears or brakes. In addition to safety matters, a bad paint job can also be defined as a substantial defect in many states.

What is meant by a reasonable number of repairs?

This guideline is open to interpretation. However, if you have taken all reasonable measures and the problem is not fixed, it will be likely that you will have fulfilled this requirement.

If you think that your new car is beyond repair or if you have been injured by the defect, you should look into whether you will be eligible for compensation under these consumer protection laws.  Contact a Quinn Law Firm attorney at 814-806-2518 for additional information.

Source: FindLaw, “How the New Car Lemon Law Can Help You,” accessed Jan. 25, 2018

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