Is Your Car A Lemon?
In Indiana, consumers who buy vehicles in Indiana are protected by the Indiana Motors Vehicle Protection Act, which is commonly referred to as the Indiana Lemon Law. Under the Indiana Lemon Law, if you report a defect with the vehicle to the manufacturer or its authorized dealers before the vehicle hits 18,000 miles or is 18 months old (whichever comes first), then the manufacturer is required to fix the defect within a reasonable amount of time. Under the Indiana Lemon Law, a reasonable amount of time is either four repair attempts and the defect is still there, or a grand total of thirty (30) business days in the shop and the defect is still not fixed. If the manufacturer cannot fix the defect within a reasonable amount of time, then the law requires the manufacturer to either repurchase the vehicle or replace it with a vehicle of comparable value, whichever the consumer chooses. What is advantageous to the consumer under the Indiana Lemon Law is that the manufacturer has an ongoing obligation to attempt to fix the defects that were reported within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles (which is referred to as the “term of protection”) even after the 18,000 miles or 18 months has passed, so long as the defect was at least reported within the “term of protection.” However, not all defects make a vehicle a lemon. For example, a broken cup holder is not likely to make your vehicle a lemon because the Indiana Lemon Law does require that the defect or the combination of defects cause a substantial impairment to either the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle, which is determined on a case by case basis. In addition, if it is determined that your vehicle is a lemon, the Indiana Lemon Law does allow the manufacturer to reduce the amount it has to pay back in a repurchase based upon the use/miles that the vehicle has been driven, which can vary depending on the purchase price of the vehicle and the number of miles it has been driven. If you believe you may qualify for the Indiana Lemon Law, our attorneys will review your repair orders and purchase contract free of charge and provide you with an assessment of your options under the Indiana Lemon Law and how Krohn & Moss may be able to assist you in pursing your rights under the Indiana Lemon Law.
The attorneys at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. have been handling consumer issues for over a decade now, and are well equipped to help consumers determine whether or not their vehicle is a lemon. Even if the car is not a lemon there are many avenues a consumer may take in order to get recovery. Therefore, it is important to speak with an attorney if the delivered product does not meet the consumer’s expectations.
If you’d like to find out if you are entitled to money back or a replacement vehicle, call 1-800-US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation! Or submit your information online for your FREE case evaluation.