Pennsylvania Lemon Law

Every state has laws to protect consumers from products that have serious defects. Lemon laws protect consumers from automobiles that are plagued with serious defects. If an item cannot be satisfactorily repaired within a certain timeframe – usually within the warranty period - or if the item is not as good as new after so many repairs, it is considered a ""lemon."" On similar grounds, the Pennsylvanian lemon law was enacted for the express purpose of protecting consumers from buying or leasing new, but faulty, motor vehicles. Like most laws, lemon laws differ by state.

Pennsylvania lemon law applies to new cars that have a defect or condition that cannot be repaired after three attempts by an authorized manufacturer's dealership. This defect must first occur within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. This law applies to vehicles that are in the shop for repair for thirty days or more during the first year. This law contains a fee-shifting provision, which means that if the consumer prevails, the manufacturer must pay all attorney fees and legal costs on top of what you receive.

This law defines when a manufacturer has breached its written warranty and what the purchaser is entitled to for such a breach of warranty. Additionally, there are various other lemon laws which can be used to recover money for consumers. This law provides consumers with a powerful and effective way to get rid of a defective vehicle or receive a cash settlement. One cannot only get rid of the lemon or the faulty vehicle, but can also get loan paid off and even get the money back. The consumer may also be entitled to additional out-of-pocket costs they have incurred, such as towing, rental cars and more.

Pennsylvania Law provides detailed information on Pennsylvania Law, Pennsylvania State Law, Pennsylvania DUI Law, Pennsylvania Lemon Law and more.

Don't Get Had By The Pennsylvania Lemon Law

If you’re interested in the Pennsylvania lemon law, it’s best to know what it says before you buy your car. The sooner you know what the details of Pennsylvania’s lemon law are, the better you’ll be able to protect yourself and avoid hassle and frustration. But regardless of where you are in the process, we’ve boiled down what the main points of the lemon law are, then included some advice on how to act if your car’s maker is giving you a hard time. We’re not attorneys, so please don’t mistake this for legal advice. But it should be helpful.

First of all, the Pennsylvania lemon law applies to all new or leased cars. It doesn’t cover used cars unless the dealer makes it very clear that the car is a lemon. Motorcycles, off-road vehicles and motor homes aren’t covered by this law.

Most cars that are covered by this law are only covered for the first year you own it or within 12,000 miles of use. As quickly as time moves, this makes it very important that you not delay with any problems or claims. If your warranty has expired, consider contacting an attorney to see what options you have.

If your car is covered, and you’re having problems, the first thing to do is see what your owners manual tells you to do. All manuals should have instructions about this. The first person you’ll usually contact is the dealer who you bought your car from or the manufacturer’s area representative. You can get this person’s name and phone number from the dealership or online.

You must either take your car to a dealership for repairs or—if a dealership is too far away for you to reasonably get your car to—you must given written notice to the manufacturer of the problem. They should arrange to have the car transported to an appropriate repair facility.

Every time a repair is made on your car, the dealer must give you an itemized statement of everything that was done. Make sure you get a copy of this, then keep it somewhere handy. This statement should include the date the repair was done and odometer reading. So much of getting satisfaction from your lemon law claim is being able to document the problems your car has had and what’s been done about them.

The general rule with Pennsylvania’s lemon law is if your car has been repaired four or more times for the same defect, the car’s a lemon.

Still have questions? Give you attorney general a call, at 1 800 441 2555, weekdays from 10 to 3. You can also go online; start at http://www.dot10.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-lemon.pdf.

It’s possible that Pennsylvania’s lemon law won’t give you the satisfaction you feel you deserve. This is fast getting into need-a-lawyer territory, but let us just say that in a lot of the cases we’ve seen involving lemon laws, people have sued the manufacturer based on their state laws and two federal laws, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Uniform Commercial Code. Some people have sued under breach of contract or unfair marketing.

The main thing you can do to protect yourself is to document every problem your car has, when it had the problem, what you did and what the dealer and manufacturer did. The more records you have, the stronger a case you’ll generally have. The Pennsylvania lemon law give you some protection, but if it doesn’t satisfy you, you do have other options. Good luck.

What is the Pennsylvania Lemon Law?

The Pennsylvania Lemon Law (73 P. S. sec. 1951 et seq.) is a powerful state statute that protects consumers and purchasers of defective motor vehicles. The Lemon Law was established in 1984, and originally protected only those individuals who actually purchased a motor vehicle. In the late 1990’s, with the popularity of leasing a vehicle increasing dramatically, the PA legislature began to see that those individuals who leased what turned out to be defective vehicles were left without a remedy under the Pennsylvania Lemon Law. To that end, the legislature amended the PA Lemon Law in 2001 to include vehicles that were leased after February 11, 2002 for protection under the law.

The PA Lemon Law, in a nutshell, provides for a refund of the purchase price or a replacement of the defective vehicle if certain criteria are met with regards to the defective conditions of the vehicle. The defective condition must substantially affect the Use, Value or Safety of the vehicle in question. Whether the Use, Value or Safety is affected for the most part requires application of the common sense test. If the vehicle has problems with the engine stalling while making left turns, that would likely be a serious problem that affects Use, Value and Safety. If the vehicle’s radio doesn’t pick up someone’s favorite station, that likely would not qualify as an impairment under the statute.

The PA Lemon Law provides that the first occurrence of the defect must arise within the first 12,000 miles, and that the Manufacturer be notified in that time frame as well. This notification can come simply in the form of having the purchaser/lessor take the vehicle in to the dealer for a repair. The law provides that the Manufacturer must be given a reasonable number of attempts to cure the defect, and in Pennsylvania there is a presumption that the number of repair attempts is three. An exception to that rule exists in that one occurrence of a defect which might cause death or serious bodily injury would be enough to render the vehicle a lemon. The type of defect necessary to fulfill that exception is not defined by the statute, and there has been no actual case law that has established what type of defect that might be. After the third occurrence of the defect, the purchaser/lessor of the vehicle can bring a claim under the Lemon Law, seeking either a refund of the purchase price or a replacement vehicle.

The Lemon Law also provides for recovery of all consequential and incidental damages, which generally include all payments made towards financing, any down payment made, any charges for repair costs, rental car charges, towing charges and the like. Perhaps the most important aspect of the Lemon Law is that it provides that the Manufacturer must pay the consumer’s Attorney Fees and costs if the vehicle is found to be a lemon. This serves to provide the public with free legal representation in Lemon Law cases. It would be hard to imagine a more public friendly statute.

Lemon Law - When You Need the Expert

Lemon law cases follow a certain sequence, as do most other legal matters. Roughly sixty five percent of the time a lemon law case never reaches the litigation stage. These cases are handled in what is called prelitigation.

Phase I: It goes roughly like this. Joe Jones buys a new vehicle: Ford, Nissan, BMW, it doesn’t matter which kind, they all manufacture lemons; some more than others. Joe drives the vehicle for a month or so then he notices that whenever he hits the brake, the steering wheel shudders and the front end has a tendency to pull to the left of right. Various other things are wrong with the vehicle, but none that are serious or life threatening.

Joe takes the vehicle back to the dealer where he purchased it. Let’s back up a step. He calls them to make an appointment. Maybe they play games, like making him wait two weeks, or maybe not. At the dealer, as soon as he explains the problem to the service writer, they know exactly what’s going on. His isn’t the first vehicle brought back for this problem. Besides, soon after this vehicle came out, the manufacturer issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) describing the problem and some things that might be done about it.

By the way, the manufacture did not send the TSB to Mr. Jones. They never do. Unfortunately the problem is a design fault, so no matter what the dealership does, they can’t fix the problem without replacing the entire front end, redesigned to correct the problem.

Remember, anything, any problem that looks like it can’t be fixed is going to be hidden. It’s going to be hidden because the one thing the manufacturer does not want is for the problem to become a recall. It is sadly true that manufacturers have knowingly allowed cars on the road, whose repeated defects endangered the driver and his or her passengers, rather than mess up their financial bottom line. About the only way a manufacturer will ‘voluntarily’ fix a problem of this sort is if the National Highway Safety Transportation Agency (NHSTA) forces them to by issuing a recall.

So, the technician goes for a ride in Joe’s vehicle. He comes back and says something like, ‘no problem found’ or ‘the vehicle is operating as designed.’ Imagine the owner’s disgust and disbelief at being told the vehicle is operating as designed.

Consumers are not near as stupid as the people at the dealerships seem to think. Joe knows very well that his vehicle shouldn’t shake and dive to the left when he hits the brake.

This is just the opening round. The contestants are sparring, throwing a few jabs, bobbing and weaving, feeling the opponent out. The dealer knows that probably 50% of owners don’t really understand much about modern automobiles, and they will be able to get away with whatever they say. If, for example the owner came back ‘in their face’ as we say in America, perhaps the dealership would sing another tune. Then the owner might find out about a Secret Warranty; but that’s another article, and it’s another way to avoid that nasty old recall.

The dealership may make an effort to fix some of the minor stuff just to keep its credibility as an organization devoted to the well being of its customers.

Now we advance into the seemingly endless round of trips back and forth to the dealership as Mr. Jones tries to get the problem with his front end fixed. It’s pretty darned scary to be driving down the freeway at seventy and have the vehicle shake so hard it feels like it is going to fall apart, or for the vehicle to dart to the left lane like a turkey avoiding the axe on Thanks Giving Day.

Next time he brings it in, the dealer agrees that there is minor braking/shaking problem. What a revelation! Joe has been saying this all along. The dealership analyzed the possibilities and come up with the cause: the wheels are out of alignment. They realign the wheels. Or maybe the service writer gives out some garbledy gook about ‘run out.’ We have even seen, for this exact problem, where the dealership contended that the problem was caused by the way the owner drove. This accusation was entirely unsupported by data. It was in fact absolute horse dirt, but dealers and manufacturers understand the value of the big lie, boldly professed.

Phase II: Five more trips to the dealership, trying to get this problem fixed without result and Joe gets a lawyer. Joe sends all of the paper to his attorney, especially the repair orders. The attorney and his or her staff interview the potential client and reviews the repair orders carefully. At some point they determine that Joe Jones has a good case per the requirements of that particular state’s lemon laws. At this point we are still in what is called prelitigation.

The attorney drafts a demand letter (this is a letter that spells out the legal reasons why the manufacturer should buy back the vehicle or provide a replacement and the vehicle defects, which make the vehicle a lemon, plus the financials if it is to be a refund. If it is to be a replacement the settlement data is spelled out. The demand letter is sent and the manufacturer has approximately thirty days to respond.

Phase III: If the manufacturer wants to settle the case, their return letter will state their offer of settlement. Many times this will be very close to or what the attorney proposed in their demand letter. Other times the manufacturer may make a offer so ridiculous that even the most dour of individuals would fall to the floor laughing. These offers will of course be rejected and the attorney will encourage them to make a serious offer.

The Expert Phase: Another option is that the manufacturer rejects the attorney’s demand. When this occurs, if the attorney thinks it is a strong case that can be won at trial, the case is transferred from prelitigation to litigation. One of the first things that usually happens at this point is that an appointment is made to have the vehicle examined by an expert. Anyone who has watched the assorted crime dramas that proliferate on the TV networks will remember that at some point the experts always appear. In these dramas, usually it’s some blathering psychiatrist doing his witch doctor thing or a forensics expert discussing the grooves and lands in a rifle barrel.

An expert may keep the owner’s vehicle for as much as a week, especially where it is necessary to drive the vehicle under varying conditions to be certain the problem exists. The expert writes a report and it becomes a part of the case file. If the expert verifies the problem, this information may be presented to the manufacturer and they may decide to settle straightaway or continue fighting. Either way, if the expert verifies the problem, it is a good thing for the owner.

At some point the Vehicle manufacturer may want to bring in their own expert, after which it can become a case of dueling experts.

The cost of experts is usually born by the client, however when the case settles, if it settles in the favor of the vehicle owner, the expert costs are recoverable in litigation.

The thing to remember is that manufacturers are going to do everything possible to make the vehicle owner give up and go away. It is absolutely important that the vehicle owner keep this in mind as the weeks drain away. The manufacturer is counting on wearing the consumer down like water on dripping on stone, and at about the same pace.

Experts are part of the process. It is our experience that the experts we use are professional and tell it like it is. If the client’s defects are real, the expert will verify it, even if they are intermittent and report on it. If the defects are not verifiable or weak, the expert will verify this also. This is good for our client and it is good for our firm. We don’t want to lose because when we lose our clients lose and this is a very bad thing.

If you find yourself in a position where an expert is needed, whether it is with Norman Taylor & Associates or with another attorney, tell it like it is and the expert can help you win.

Michigan Lemon Law - How Does It Protect You?

It’s not the way you’d expect an article on the Michigan lemon law to begin, but we’re sorry you need to find information about it. Unless you’re just being careful, you probably think you’ve got a lemon on your hands. We hope that we’re writing here will help you get through this difficult, frustrating and unpleasant time.

To start, here are some basic facts about Michigan’s lemon law—

: it applies to all new and leased cars (this is a recent change, to our benefit)

: a car’s “problem” is now defined by the consumer, rather than the manufacturer (more good news for us)

: Michigan cars are covered for two years after the first lemon problem surfaces OR once the car’s been in the shop for 30 days or more

: the first problem must come up within 12 months of your buying the car

: if your car is a lemon, you can get a refund or a replace vehicle

: you must give your car’s manufacturer the opportunity to fix the problem (which they’ll usually do through your local dealership)

: document every problem you have with your car and every problem related to it. (The more details you have, the stronger your case will be.) Your documentation should include all your service records, the mileage and date of each incident, who you talk to at the dealership, manufacturer, etc., what they and you say, etc. The more records you have, the better

: before your car has been fixed for the fourth time, or it’s been out of service for its 30th day, contact the manufacturer and tell them you believe you’ve got a lemon on your hands.

There is more information about Michigan’s lemon law at http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-17278-47386--,00.html. You can also 1 877 765 8388 for help.

If you’ve done all of this but haven’t gotten any satisfaction, there are a couple of other laws that might help. These are federal laws: the Uniform Commercial Code and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. You’re fast getting to the point where you’re going to need professional legal help; if neither of these laws help, successful lawsuits have been won using breach of contract or unfair marketing laws.

Our final word on the Michigan lemon law is to remind you to please keep the best records possible, use whatever arbitration programs are available to you and provide the right notice to the right people in the most timely manner. Fighting the lemon law is a maddening, frustrating experience to go through. Good luck.

What is Lemon Law?

What do I mean when I say “My car is under lemon?” It refers to the major defects in your car that deteriorates its usage, safety and value. In such a case, there are Lemon Laws to protect the consumers.

Now you must be wondering what a Lemon Law does. Lemon Laws are meant to obligate the seller or the manufacturer of the product to refund, repair or replace the defective product to the consumer. The Lemon Laws protect the purchaser of the defective new vehicle within its warranty period of the purchase. The Law is only applicable provided the consumer replaces the car within a specific given time limit. The manufacturer or the seller would provide the consumer with a new car or completely refund the full cost price.

There are certain key factors that need to be kept in mind to opt for a Lemon Law. These key factors are:

1. The purchaser can’t complaint of minor issues which do not affect the usage and its safety such as funny noises, certain lights, etc. The consumer can not be protected under the lemon law in case there is anything in the car which the consumer does not prefer. These decisions should be made during the time of the purchase and the seller or manufacturer can not be blamed for it.
2. The second factor is that the defect has to affect one of three or all the areas; safety, usage and value. If it’s a major defect then it has to affect any one of the three.
3. Even if you have several defects during the warranty period, it does not mean your car is lemon. But a single serious problem can prove your car lemon if the manufacturer can not fix it in the first go.
4. The manufacturer might take more than one chance to fix the problem.

In case the dealer refuses to repair or replace your vehicle, you are entitled to a legal Lemon Law help. When the dealer assures the buyer with a warranty during the purchase of the car, he is committed to provide all the after sales services. In case the manufacture doesn’t abide by the obligations, check with a trusted expert attorney. It is advised to possess all the required documents of the purchase of the car for further actions.

What is the Pennsylvania Lemon Law?

The Pennsylvania Lemon Law (73 P. S. sec. 1951 et seq.) is a powerful state statute that protects consumers and purchasers of defective motor vehicles. The Lemon Law was established in 1984, and originally protected only those individuals who actually purchased a motor vehicle. In the late 1990’s, with the popularity of leasing a vehicle increasing dramatically, the PA legislature began to see that those individuals who leased what turned out to be defective vehicles were left without a remedy under the Pennsylvania Lemon Law. To that end, the legislature amended the PA Lemon Law in 2001 to include vehicles that were leased after February 11, 2002 for protection under the law.

The PA Lemon Law, in a nutshell, provides for a refund of the purchase price or a replacement of the defective vehicle if certain criteria are met with regards to the defective conditions of the vehicle. The defective condition must substantially affect the Use, Value or Safety of the vehicle in question. Whether the Use, Value or Safety is affected for the most part requires application of the common sense test. If the vehicle has problems with the engine stalling while making left turns, that would likely be a serious problem that affects Use, Value and Safety. If the vehicle’s radio doesn’t pick up someone’s favorite station, that likely would not qualify as an impairment under the statute.

The PA Lemon Law provides that the first occurrence of the defect must arise within the first 12,000 miles, and that the Manufacturer be notified in that time frame as well. This notification can come simply in the form of having the purchaser/lessor take the vehicle in to the dealer for a repair. The law provides that the Manufacturer must be given a reasonable number of attempts to cure the defect, and in Pennsylvania there is a presumption that the number of repair attempts is three. An exception to that rule exists in that one occurrence of a defect which might cause death or serious bodily injury would be enough to render the vehicle a lemon. The type of defect necessary to fulfill that exception is not defined by the statute, and there has been no actual case law that has established what type of defect that might be. After the third occurrence of the defect, the purchaser/lessor of the vehicle can bring a claim under the Lemon Law, seeking either a refund of the purchase price or a replacement vehicle.

The Lemon Law also provides for recovery of all consequential and incidental damages, which generally include all payments made towards financing, any down payment made, any charges for repair costs, rental car charges, towing charges and the like. Perhaps the most important aspect of the Lemon Law is that it provides that the Manufacturer must pay the consumer’s Attorney Fees and costs if the vehicle is found to be a lemon. This serves to provide the public with free legal representation in Lemon Law cases. It would be hard to imagine a more public friendly statute.

Lemon Law - When You Need the Expert

Lemon law cases follow a certain sequence, as do most other legal matters. Roughly sixty five percent of the time a lemon law case never reaches the litigation stage. These cases are handled in what is called prelitigation.

Phase I: It goes roughly like this. Joe Jones buys a new vehicle: Ford, Nissan, BMW, it doesn’t matter which kind, they all manufacture lemons; some more than others. Joe drives the vehicle for a month or so then he notices that whenever he hits the brake, the steering wheel shudders and the front end has a tendency to pull to the left of right. Various other things are wrong with the vehicle, but none that are serious or life threatening.

Joe takes the vehicle back to the dealer where he purchased it. Let’s back up a step. He calls them to make an appointment. Maybe they play games, like making him wait two weeks, or maybe not. At the dealer, as soon as he explains the problem to the service writer, they know exactly what’s going on. His isn’t the first vehicle brought back for this problem. Besides, soon after this vehicle came out, the manufacturer issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) describing the problem and some things that might be done about it.

By the way, the manufacture did not send the TSB to Mr. Jones. They never do. Unfortunately the problem is a design fault, so no matter what the dealership does, they can’t fix the problem without replacing the entire front end, redesigned to correct the problem.

Remember, anything, any problem that looks like it can’t be fixed is going to be hidden. It’s going to be hidden because the one thing the manufacturer does not want is for the problem to become a recall. It is sadly true that manufacturers have knowingly allowed cars on the road, whose repeated defects endangered the driver and his or her passengers, rather than mess up their financial bottom line. About the only way a manufacturer will ‘voluntarily’ fix a problem of this sort is if the National Highway Safety Transportation Agency (NHSTA) forces them to by issuing a recall.

So, the technician goes for a ride in Joe’s vehicle. He comes back and says something like, ‘no problem found’ or ‘the vehicle is operating as designed.’ Imagine the owner’s disgust and disbelief at being told the vehicle is operating as designed.

Consumers are not near as stupid as the people at the dealerships seem to think. Joe knows very well that his vehicle shouldn’t shake and dive to the left when he hits the brake.

California Lemon Law

What is California Lemon Law ? California Lemon Law is a state granted consumer-right that safeguards consumers against purchases of faulty or defective (Lemon) products. Although the product may be anything, the California Lemon Law bears a special allegiance to faulty, malfunctioning automobiles. Main-points of California Lemon Law Also known as Motor Vehicle Warranty Rights Act, the California Lemon Law states that if a purchased vehicle turns out to be defective in the warranty period rendering it unfit for use or inflicts some serious injuries to the user, then the consumer has every right to ask for refund or replacement. The Lemon Law holds the manufacturer responsible for all the defects and problems in a Lemon Vehicle. Once the flaws are brought to the notice of the manufacturer, the manufacturer is bound to do the repair-works. In case the manufacturer fails to set the problem right even after some genuine attempts, the company must either replace the defective vehicle or refund the consumer's money. The Law also empowers the customer to file a Lemon Lawsuit in any Court of Law if a manufacturer denies to comply with the repair / refund / replacement plea even after the snags in the automobile are detected and proved. Additionally, refund for expenses incurred on various heads like repairing charges, rental vehicle charges and even your lawyer's fees are secured under the California Lemon Law. The same set of laws is applicable for leased vehicles as well. Under What Circumstances Can Consumers Seek Protection Under The Lemon Law In Calfornia? California Lemon Law permits buyers and renters of both new and used vehicles to demand for full refund or replacement when the vehicles are declared 'Lemons' - faulty and unfit for use. However, this declaration calls for the following proof: - The defect is a manufacturing defect and is certainly not a result of mishandling. - The vehicle has been repaired at least four times and still the defect persists. (In case of serious defects that can lead to injuries and death, the number of repair attempts has been lowered to two repairs). - The defect is detected but is not set right within the period of 18 months or 18,000 miles (whichever is earlier). What The Consumers Need To Do? The California Lemon Law truly protects the rights and interests of consumers. However, the customers need to attend specific requirements like: - Abide by the instructions in the User's Manual while driving or handling the vehicle. - Take the vehicle only to authorized service centers for all repair-works and servicing. - California Lemon Law only recognizes a written complaint sent to the manufacturer as a formal legal notice. For added safety, you may send the complaint through certified mail. - All the vehicle documents, all repair records, technical reports, etc. should be kept handy because lodging a complaint or filing a case calls for accurate proof. Unless and until you fulfill all the above requirements, you will not be able to enjoy the benefits and protection offered by the California Lemon Law.

Top 4 Lemon Law

MYTH #1: You are not entitled to anything if your vehicle has been fixed.
In many states, if you meet one of the triggers in the State or Federal Lemon Law that deem your car a Lemon, you are legally entitled to get rid of your Lemon or get cash, even if the manufacturer later fixes your vehicle. After all, why should you have to drive around in a potentially unsafe vehicle in order to be protected by the Law? If they cannot fix your vehicle in a reasonable amount of time, your rights are triggered and there is nothing the manufacturer can do to take those away from you, including fixing the car months later.
MYTH #2: You have no case because you have traded in your vehicle
You can recover thousands of dollars of cash even if you have traded in your vehicle! Most State and Federal Laws clearly provide for cash back even after you have traded in your vehicle. Have you ever thought about all the money you paid for a car that did not live up to the standards that were advertised by the manufacturer? Or were you forced to roll "negative equity" from the Lemon that you traded in into the purchase price of your new car, thus increasing the cost of your new car? The Law recognizes this as being unfair. Due to the problems you had with your automobile, you simply did not get what you paid for it. You got something less than what you bargained for. That is the basis of your damages and these can be recovered even if you no longer have possession of your vehicle!
MYTH #3: Your car does not qualify for Lemon Law relief
In many States, there are no easy black and white “qualifications” for you to recover thousands of dollars or for you to get rid of your vehicle. This is definitely true of the Federal Lemon Law. If someone who is not looking out for your best interests, such as the dealer, told you this - be careful! Naturally, they have the car company's best interests at heart. This is the last person you should listen to. In fact, it has been rumored that the Manufacturers actually train dealer personnel to minimize the chances of a Lemon Law suits being filed by various methods. Also, many times the dealer employees have never even read the Law, nor are they licensed attorneys. More importantly, there is more than one Lemon Law and other consumer protection Laws that can be used to help you recover money, in addition to the State Lemon Law.
MYTH # 4: You must file your Lemon Law claim within a very short period of time, such as 1 or 2 years or 12,000 to 18,000 miles.
This is commonly misunderstood by people who are not trained in the Law, i.e. non-lawyers who in trying to be helpful, often do more harm than good. You usually have up to 4 years from the date your warranty was breached (i.e. after multiple repair attempts) to file a claim under a State or a Federal Lemon Law. You may have even longer in certain States and under other consumer protection Laws.
To make sure you don't fall victim to any misinformation, here's how to get the facts fast:
Use this Lemon Law Lawyer finder, to find an experienced Lemon Law attorney that knows the Laws and the "tricks" dealers and manufacturers often use on inexperienced vehicle owners.