Ohio Lemon Law Attorneys

Yes, Ohio’s Lemon Law allows consumers to return defective vehicles to the manufacturer for a refund or replacement vehicle. However, consumers must first provide the manufacturer with an opportunity to fix the problem. When manufacturers fail to repair vehicles after a reasonable number of attempts, consumers are entitled to seek compensation.

The Ohio Lemon Law applies to motor vehicles purchased or leased in the State of Ohio. To qualify for compensation under the law, the vehicle must have a defect that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety.

When you have such a defective vehicle, you’ll need to bring it to the manufacturer for repairs within the first year or 18,000 miles of ownership, whichever comes first. Defects that occur or are reported after this period should still qualify for protection under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. But you should always report defects as soon as possible.

For defects that could cause death or serious injury, you only need to provide the manufacturer with a single repair attempt before you can take legal action. For less dangerous defects, Ohio Lemon Law allows manufacturers three repair attempts.

Additionally, vehicles can qualify for compensation if they are out of service for a total of 30 days OR if they’re subjected to eight repair attempts for any number of defects within the first year and 18,000 miles of ownership.

If your vehicle’s defect(s) still exists after these repair attempts, it’s a lemon. Before you can collect a check or a new car, you’ll need to present your case to a third-party arbitration panel. You’re free to present your case to the panel without representation but having an experienced Ohio Lemon Law attorney in your corner greatly increases your chances of success.

Thankfully, the Ohio law includes a fee-shifting provision that holds the manufacturer responsible for your attorneys’ fees when you win your case. And at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center®, we only get paid if you do. Thus, there are no compelling reasons to represent yourself in Lemon Law proceedings when you can hire an attorney at no cost to you.

After reviewing your case, the arbitration board will rule on whether you deserve to be compensated and to what extent. If you aren’t satisfied with the board’s decision, the next step would be to file a civil action with the courts. Cases that reach this far typically settle before going to trial. In fact, more than 99% of our cases settle before trial.

If the manufacturer does offer a settlement at any point in this process, only you can decide whether to accept it or not. We will always provide our professional opinion concerning any settlement offer, but the decision to accept an offer is ultimately yours to make.

Yes, you typically have 5 years from the original delivery date to file a claim under the Ohio Lemon Law. It is possible to extend this limit for claims reviewed by an arbitration board. But you (or your attorney) must submit the claim to the arbitration board within this 5-year limit. And the extension is limited to the time it takes the board to hear your claim and make an offer.

In most cases, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act provides an even longer window to file your claim. It covers vehicles for the duration of their warranty and provides up to four years after the warranty was breached to file a claim. So, for vehicles that come with lengthy warranties, you may be able to file a claim a decade or longer after the purchase date.

Yes, Ohio Lemon Law covers used cars, but the reporting period is based on the original purchase date. Thus, you (or a previous owner) must report the defect within one year and 18,000 miles of when the original owner purchased the car.

If your vehicle does not meet these qualifications, you may still qualify for compensation under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. This “federal Lemon Law” applies to any consumer product that comes with a warranty, including used cars. Plus, consumers may file claims under this law for up to four years after their warranty was breached, which, in lemon law cases, often equates to the date of the first failed repair attempt.

No, all vehicle sales in Ohio are final. However, if the car is defective, you may be able to return it and/or seek compensation under the federal or Ohio Lemon Laws.