Since 1995, Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center® has represented and helped over 60,000 consumers obtain relief for their defective or misrepresented consumer products. Contact our Ohio lemon law attorneys for a case review.
When you buy a new car in Ohio, you’re entitled to a vehicle that works. So if your car is constantly in the shop for repairs, you may be eligible for a refund or a replacement vehicle under the Ohio Lemon Law. The law also states that the manufacturer must pay any legal fees associated with successful Lemon Law claims.
Thus, our attorneys will represent you at no direct cost to you. When you collect the compensation you deserve, the car company pays our fees. And because we only charge for successes, you still pay nothing in the rare instances where car companies prevail. So rather than fighting for your rights alone, let our experienced legal team help, without direct charge to you.
Within one year of the original delivery and within 18,000 miles
If your vehicle fails to meet these qualifications, you may still have a case under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the “Federal Lemon Law,” which offers broader protections.
The Lemon Law in Ohio protects consumers from purchasing defective motor vehicles. If you purchase a new vehicle with a defect or condition that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety, the law entitles you to a refund or a replacement vehicle. However, you must give the manufacturer an opportunity to resolve the issue first.
The defect(s), and at least the first repair attempt, must occur within the first year of ownership and before you’ve put 18,000 miles on the car. If the defect continues to exist after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the vehicle is a lemon and may be returned. The Ohio Lemon Law defines “a reasonable number of attempts” in a few different ways:
The law was designed with new, non-commercial motor vehicles in mind. So passenger cars, motorcycles, trucks, and certain recreational vehicles are covered. Mobile homes and manufactured homes are not covered.
At Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center® we make it easy to stand up for your rights. In the 25+ years since our founding, we’ve helped nearly 50,000 people like you stand up to car companies and collect the compensation they were owed. Thanks to the fee-shifting provisions in both the federal and the Ohio Lemon Laws, the manufacturer will be responsible for your attorney’s fees when you win your case. And if you don’t get paid, neither do we.
Our law firm has made a name for itself by securing the maximum compensation possible for our clients. Contact us today so that we can do the same for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Yes, vehicles sold at auction in Ohio are protected by the State Lemon Law as well as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. However, the Ohio Lemon Law only applies to defects reported within one year or 18,000 miles of the original purchase date. And the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act only covers vehicles with defects reported while under warranty.
With this in mind, salvage vehicles and classic cars sold at auction in Ohio typically do not qualify for protection under lemon laws because neither of those vehicle types typically come with a warranty. That said, if you think you have a lemon, reach out to us for a free case review. We’ll review your case and counsel you on your best course of action.
Yes, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects all consumer products costing more than $10. So even though the Ohio Lemon Law does not apply to travel trailers or campers, you still have rights. And if you purchase a defective trailer, the manufacturer is obligated to repair it or compensate you appropriately.
You can read the Ohio Lemon Law Statutes at any time here on our site.
Or, if you’re interested to see whether a used car was ever declared a lemon, you can research its history at www.vehiclehistory.gov. Additionally, the title of any vehicle deemed a lemon must clearly state as much.
For answers to other questions about the Lemon Law in Ohio, call Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center®. We provide free case reviews to all clients and only collect payment if you do. Plus, the fee-shifting provisions in federal and Ohio Lemon Laws allow us to bill the manufacturer for our legal fees when we win your case.
Our track record speaks for itself. We’ve handled over 50,000 Lemon Law cases, securing settlements in more than 99% of them. So, if you even think that your vehicle might be a lemon, reach out to us today and we’ll let you know whether or not you have a case. And if you do have a case, we’ll represent you for no out-of-pocket costs and we will seek payment of our attorneys’ fees from the manufacturer.
We’ve put together a simple, effective evaluator to help you determine whether or not you have a lemon.
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