In a nutshell, a lemon is a defective vehicle that was purchased without the buyer knowing of the defects. Typically the flaws and defects are not apparent at purchase. The lemon vehicle may have defects or flaws that have caused the vehicle to be repaired multiple times without any luck.

A vehicle can be a lemon regardless if it is brand new or used.

New Vehicles:

From time to time, a new vehicle will have hidden mechanical flaws or defects that were not noticeable at purchase. Things can happen in the factory during the manufacturing of the vehicle such as tools breaking. It’s also possible that a part was incorrectly installed. These flaws and defects are what make a vehicle a lemon.

The lemon law usually protects you from a vehicle that has been repaired multiple times but still shows problems. Especially if the repairs have taken the vehicle out of service for a long period of time (typically a month or more).

The main reason for the lemon law is to force car manufacturers to purchase “lemons” back from the buyers. It is also common for car manufacturers to exchange lemons for a new vehicle.

Used Vehicles:

Purchasing a used vehicle gives you a much larger risk of getting a lemon. The reason is because the vehicle may have been damaged, abbused, or incorrectly maintained. It’s very possible that a vehicle may have been totalled and then completely rebuilt to show room condition.

Used vehicles that have been improperly repaired pose a very large safety risk. Vehicles that have been cut apart and then put back together can come apart when traveling at high speeds.

Luckily, there are services out there that can help you avoid a lemon when purchasing a used vehicle. These services allow you to check the history of a vehicle using the vehicles serial number (VIN). A popular service is CarFax.com.

We highly recommend using a history check service when purchasing a used vehicle so you can save yourself from getting a lemon.

Have You Purchased A Lemon?

If you have purchased a vehicle that you think is a lemon, there are several things you can do. We highly recommend reading up on the lemon laws in your state.

Learn More About The Lemon Law In Your State

We also highly recommend finding a lemon law attorney that can answer your questions. You will have a much better chance at getting a refund or exchange if you contact a lemon law attorney as they are professionals in the field.