If your vehicle has been sitting at the dealership for days or even weeks, you may be wondering: How long can a dealer keep your car for repair? The answer depends on several factors, including your warranty coverage, the type of defect, parts availability, and your state’s lemon law requirements.
While there is no single rule that applies to every situation, the law does not allow dealerships or manufacturers to hold your vehicle indefinitely. When the delays become excessive, you have rights under the warranty laws and lemon laws in your area.
What Is Considered a Reasonable Repair Time?
In most cases, a dealer is allowed a reasonable amount of time to diagnose and repair a warranty-covered defect. What is considered reasonable depends on the complexity of the issue and the laws in your state. A minor electrical problem may be resolved in a few days. A transmission replacement may take longer, especially if parts must be ordered.
Manufacturers often point to parts shortages, shipping delays, or diagnostic challenges as reasons for extended repair times. While some short delays are legitimate, it’s important to know your rights.
For example, in many states, the dealer only has 30 business days to make successful repairs before your vehicle is considered a lemon. In other states, it’s just 15 business days. (Keep in mind these guidelines typically only apply to substantial, warranty-covered defects that are reported to the manufacturer within the proper timeframe.)
Regardless of how long your vehicle’s been out of service, you should know that you may have recourse under the law. The best way to determine if you’re eligible is to reach out to an experienced lemon law lawyer for a free case review.
The Importance of Warranty Coverage
Your warranty plays a major role in determining how long a dealer can keep your car for repair. Most new vehicles are covered by a bumper-to-bumper warranty for a limited time, along with longer powertrain coverage.
If the repair is covered under warranty, the manufacturer has a legal obligation to correct the defect within a reasonable timeframe. The warranty does not allow the manufacturer to simply hold the vehicle without resolution.
Repair orders should clearly document:
- The date the vehicle was dropped off
- The mileage at the time of service
- The defect reported
- The date the repair was completed
These records become important if the repair process drags on or if the problem continues after the vehicle is returned.
Parts Delays and Backorders
One common reason dealers give for extended repair times is a parts backorder. Modern vehicles rely on complex electronic components, sensors, and computer systems. If a critical part is unavailable, repairs may be delayed.
Even when parts are backordered, the time your vehicle spends waiting still counts as time out of service. Manufacturers cannot avoid responsibility simply because a part is unavailable.
After all, the manufacturer is likely continuing to put these same needed replacement parts in the assembly of its new vehicles for purchase. Therefore, if it chooses to designate needed replacement parts for the sale of its new vehicles instead of for use to repair its cars in need of repair, then it is proceeding at its own peril. As such, if the delay becomes excessive, legal remedies may be available to you.
Do You Have to Accept Long Delays?
Many consumers feel stuck when their vehicle sits at the dealership for weeks. They may accept repeated promises that the repair will be completed soon. However, if the delay is unreasonable, you do not have to simply wait without exploring your options.
You may have rights under:
- Your written manufacturer warranty
- Your state’s lemon law
- The federal lemon law, also known as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
These laws focus on whether the manufacturer complied with its warranty obligations and whether it had a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect.
Signs It May Be Time to Seek Legal Guidance
You may want to speak with a lemon law attorney if:
- Your vehicle has been out of service for several weeks
- The same issue keeps returning despite repairs
- The dealer cannot provide a clear timeline for completion
- The manufacturer claims the problem is fixed, but it persists
The sooner you act, the sooner you’ll be able to get back out on the road.
How Long Is Too Long?
Most states define the length of time your vehicle may be out of service before it is legally declared a lemon. In most states, the answer is thirty (30) days. Some states have lower periods of time if the nature of the problem is one that creates a safety concern. In instances where no state lemon law applies, federal law dictates that a dealer may only have a reasonable time to repair defects covered by a warranty. In this instance, there is no single number of days that answers this question. However, once repairs stretch into several weeks or begin to follow a pattern, the issue likely requires help from a lawyer.
The law expects manufacturers to stand behind their warranties. If your vehicle is still unreliable or unavailable for extended periods, your situation may qualify for relief beyond another repair attempt.
Get a Free Case Review
Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center® has handled over 60,000 cases nationwide and has challenged every major auto manufacturer. For more than 30 years, we have helped consumers understand their warranty rights and pursue relief when repairs do not resolve the problem.
We are real trial lawyers who prepare cases to go as far as necessary to secure the compensation you’re owed. We have taken over 500 cases to trial and handled hundreds of consumer appeals to appellate courts throughout the nation. We have also successfully handled seven (7) appeals before various state supreme courts. And along the way, we never charge a retainer fee and only get paid if we win or settle your case.
Schedule your free case review today to see if you qualify.
