When you buy a new vehicle, you expect it to work properly. However, you could occasionally come across a vehicle that constantly gives you trouble otherwise known as a lemon. Luckily, Missouri Lemon Law protects you in this circumstance, and it helps to have some knowledge on it.
What Lemon Law Covers
Lemon Law commonly applies to new vehicles offered for sale or lease by a dealer with a warranty and title transfer. State laws considered a vehicle sale void without proper title transfer. Lemon Law in Missouri does not apply to mopeds, motorcycles or living areas of recreational vehicles. It does cover the chassis powertrain and components of recreational vehicles and off-road vehicles.
State law also doesn’t commonly cover used vehicles since they often come without a warranty. The vehicle must have an issue or defect that deems the vehicle inoperable or unsafe covered under the warranty.
Steps to Filing a Claim
If your vehicle is a lemon, you have the right to bring a case against the manufacturer and recover attorney fees under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. The manufacturer has the obligation of offering a refund or replacement. However, you must notify the manufacturer by certified letter of the defect, and the manufacturer has at least four attempts to repair the defect.
The vehicle also has to be inoperable for 30 days after the last repair attempt before you get a refund or replacement. You commonly have four years after the last failed attempt to bring litigation.
You don’t have to deal with a defective vehicle on your own. In some cases, suing under federal law may be better than state law. Visit Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center to determine which law would help you recover damages.
