Illinois Lemon Law Attorneys

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The Basics of the Lemon Law in Illinois

The New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act (Illinois’ Lemon Law) protects consumers by requiring vehicle manufacturers to refund or replace vehicles with defects that significantly impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. The law also provides manufacturers with opportunities to repair defective vehicles before they must return them.

If you have a lemon, the Illinois lemon law attorneys at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center® can help you collect the refund or replacement vehicle you’re owed. And we only get paid for cases we win.

Vehicles covered

New passenger cars designed for carrying not more than 10 persons.
Excludes vehicles weighing more than 8,000 lbs and the camping or travel trailers of recreational vehicles.

Number of required repair attempts

Four repair attempts for the same defect.
30 business days out of service for repairs, regardless of the number of repair attempts.

When repair attempts must occur

Within 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Don’t worry if your car doesn’t meet these requirements, you may still be able to file a claim under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

What Does the Lemon Law in Illinois Cover?

The Lemon Law in Illinois covers new vehicles (see FAQ section above for information about used cars), that were purchased or leased primarily for personal, household, or family purposes. This covers a wide variety of motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, and recreational vehicles. To be protected by the law, the vehicle must meet a few basic requirements:

The vehicle weighs less than 8,000 pounds
It has a defect that substantially impairs its use, safety, or value
The vehicle’s defect is covered by any of its applicable express warranties

If the vehicle has a defect that the manufacturer fails to repair after a reasonable number of attempts, they must replace the vehicle or refund its purchase price. The Illinois Lemon Law requires these attempts to be made within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles after the purchase date. And the law defines “reasonable number of attempts” as:

4 attempts for the same issue
Any number of attempts that take a total of 30 business days or more

If your vehicle meets the above requirements, we can help you collect the compensation you deserve. That compensation can take the form of a full refund, less a small fee for your use of the vehicle. Or you can get a new vehicle of comparable value. Contact us today to get started!

Federal Law Supplements the Illinois Lemon law

If the defects in your vehicle fall outside of the 12 months or 12,000 mile period of the Illinois Lemon Law, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act provides more protection for Illinois’ consumers. Under federal law, a manufacturer must repair any defects that occur with the duration of the vehicle’s warranty within a reasonable time or a reasonable number of attempts.

The manufacturer must also deliver a vehicle that is “fit for its ordinary purpose” or of the level of quality you would expect. If the manufacturer fails to do either of these things, then you may recover monetary compensation designed to make you whole along with the payment of your attorneys’ fees. Contact us today to get the process started and learn your rights.

How To Make a Lemon Law Claim in Illinois?

Before you can file a Lemon Law claim in Illinois, you must try resolving disputes via informal settlement procedures with the vehicle manufacturer. In most cases, your vehicle’s warranty or owner’s manual will include details about such programs. If the manufacturer hasn’t provided written information about such a state-certified program, you can take immediate legal action.

Rather than reading through the fine print in all of your vehicle’s paperwork, contact an Illinois Lemon Law lawyer. We know which manufacturers have these kinds of settlement procedures and can help you through the process. And if the Dispute Board fails to rule in your favor, we’ll already have the evidence we need to bring a civil action and collect your compensation.

Why Choose Krohn & Moss as Your Illinois Lemon Law Firm?

25+ Years of Experience Turning “Lemons” into “Lemon-Aid”
Over 60,000 Success Stories Nationwide
Over 10,000 Lemon Law Settlements in Illinois Alone
Accomplished, Trustworthy Attorneys
Responds to All Inquiries within 24 Hours
No Fees Unless We Win Your Case
We Always Seek Maximum Compensation for Clients

Frequently Asked Questions

Illinois Lemon Law FAQ

Does Illinois Have a Lemon Law?

Yes, Illinois’ Lemon Law (the New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act) holds car companies responsible for defective vehicles they manufacture. If they are unable to repair a defect that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of a vehicle, the company must provide the consumer with a refund or a replacement vehicle.

What Does the Lemon Law Cover in Illinois?

While the Illinois Lemon Law covers only motor vehicles with defects that substantially impair their use, value, or safety. However, federal law supplements these protections to include any consumer product. Therefore, if you purchase or lease a defective car, computer, or even a refrigerator that the manufacturer fails to repair, state and federal laws allow you to seek compensation.

How Does the Lemon Law Work in Illinois?

The Illinois Lemon Law works by providing consumers legal recourse after purchasing or leasing a defective vehicle. To qualify for recovery, you must first provide the manufacturer with a reasonable number of repair attempts to fix the defect. If those attempts fail, the next step is to present your case to the manufacturer’s informal dispute resolution program, a third-party arbitration panel. After hearing your case, the arbitrators will issue a ruling as to the compensation you deserve. If you are dissatisfied with their ruling, you may file your claim with the courts.

How Long Is the Lemon Law in Illinois?

The statutory warranty period of the Illinois Lemon Law ends one year or 12,000 miles after you take ownership of the vehicle, whichever comes first. You must provide the manufacturer with a reasonable number of repair attempts within this period to qualify for compensation under Illinois’ New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act.

However, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is far less restrictive. Under this federal Lemon Law, you may pursue compensation for any defects reported while the vehicle is under warranty. Plus, you have up to four years to file a claim after the warranty is breached. Thus, in some cases, you may be able to file a claim more than a decade after purchasing your vehicle.

That said, the sooner you act, the greater your chances of success will be. So as soon as you suspect you may have a lemon, reach out to us for a free case review.

How Do I File a Lemon Law Claim in Illinois?

Before you can file a Lemon Law claim, you must first provide the manufacturer with a reasonable number of attempts to repair the vehicle. Under the Illinois Lemon Law, that translates to four repair attempts OR a total of 30 days out of service for any number of repairs. But under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a single repair attempt will suffice in some cases.

If the defect remains after these repair attempts, you have a lemon and should consult an experienced Lemon Law lawyer if you haven’t already. Lemon Law statutes generally include fee-shifting clauses that force the manufacturer to cover your attorneys’ fees when you win your case. And since we here at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. only charge for our services when our clients prevail, there’s no reason to fight a Lemon Law case on your own.

Your lawyer will help you gather the necessary documents and attempt to resolve your case directly with the car company. Because before you can file a Lemon Law claim in Illinois, you must exhaust your options within the manufacturer’s informal dispute resolution procedure, which basically amounts to an arbitration panel.

The panel will review your case and issue a decision regarding the compensation you’re owed. After the panel rules on your case, you may file a Lemon Law claim in court. However, the panel will often rule in your favor, making it unnecessary to pursue the matter further. But if you’re not satisfied with the outcome of arbitration, filing suit is the next step.

Even when it’s necessary to take legal action, it’s unlikely your case will make it to trial. In fact, fewer than more than 99% of our cases settle before getting that far. So, if you think you have a lemon, contact us today for a free case review so that we can help you collect the compensation you deserve.

Is There a Lemon Law for Used Cars in Illinois?

Yes, consumers in Illinois may use the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act to provide them with relief for the purchase of any used car, truck, SUV, or other consumer product. This federal Lemon Law makes no distinction between new and used vehicles. If the vehicle meets the definition of a lemon, it’s covered.

This holds true even though the State Lemon Law in Illinois applies only to new vehicles. As long as you (or a previous owner) report a defect while the vehicle is under warranty, the federal Lemon Law holds the manufacturer responsible for the repairs. And if the manufacturer fails to repair the defects after a reasonable number of attempts, you can seek compensation through the courts.

Why Hire a Lemon Law Attorney in the State of Illinois?

The manufacturers of automobiles and other consumer products have virtually limitless resources. And attempting to fight a legal battle with a gigantic corporation by yourself stacks the deck against you. Hiring an experienced Lemon Law attorney provides you with the greatest chance of obtaining maximum recovery.

What’s more, you may retain an attorney without having to pay a penny out of pocket. Federal law holds manufacturers responsible for your attorneys’ fees when you prevail with your claims. And if you hire Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center® we won’t charge you for services unless you prevail. In other words, we will only get paid if you get a recovery!

Thus, the most obvious reason to hire a Lemon Law attorney in Illinois is the cost: $0. We only charge for our time if you get paid. And when you do, we bill the manufacturer for our time, not you.