Washington lemon law is a law that protects consumers from getting stuck with a vehicle that does not perform as expected. When you purchase a vehicle that has mechanical issues or safety issues, the Washington lemon law can help you to get out of the car and get the satisfaction you need.
How It Works
The lemon laws are available in every state and additionally, there are federal laws as well. Each state has their own laws with their own rules governing those laws. In each state, there are a set of requirements that the owner is obligated to meet and a set of requirements that the dealer/manufacturer must meet.
In Washington
The lemon laws in Washington state are written to protect new car owners with “substantial” mechanical problems. If a vehicle is experiencing substantial mechanical problems than the consumer after taking certain steps. Here is what it takes to take advantage of the lemon laws in Washington:
- You must make a request for an arbitration hearing, this is a free hearing, with the attorney general’s office
- There must be mechanical problems within the first 24,000 miles
- There is a military provision, if you are stationed in Washington state and bought your vehicle 30 days before reporting for duty, your vehicle is covered, if it meets all the other requirements
- There must have been 4 unsuccessful attempts to make repairs by the dealer/manufacturer (for nonconformity repairs)
- There must have been 2 unsuccessful attempts to repair a safety issue
- There are also laws that protect multiple serious defects, there must be 3 attempts within 12 months or 24,000 miles to make repairs by the dealer or the dealer’s agent
The above is just a partial list of the obligations that are involved in taking advantage of the lemon laws. An experienced attorney can help you to navigate these complex laws. Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center can help.
