Lemon is a citrus fruit with a distinctive sour taste. In slang usage, ‘Lemon' stands for a worthless or inferior quality product or thing, which the manufacturer/seller passes off as a quality product or item (of course, the buyer is in the dark). The purchase deal, therefore, leads to an unpleasant experience. Adjudged from this angle, a defective automobile, which has some severe concealed manufacturing defects or requires repeated repairs, rendering it unfit for use, is termed a LEMON Automobile.

Automobile Lemon Law

Once used merely as an expression, ‘Lemon Automobile' is now used in legal contexts and that due to the enactment of the Automobile Lemon Laws. Automobile Lemon Laws were formulated to protect the interests of the buyers should they bump into fraudulent automobile purchase deals where the vehicle fails to meet quality and performance standards due to some concealed defect.

Automobile Lemon Laws exist in every state in the United States and the rules vary from state to state. Thus, Lemon Laws in some states do not cover used or leased vehicles and are applicable for new purchases only.

Generally, consumers are permitted to demand full refund for defective vehicles from manufacturers and the law makes it binding that the company either fixes the problem or takes back the automobile making a full refund. Some state-rules, however, allow the manufacturer to tender replacements for the Lemon Automobile. The replacement, of course, has to be in the form of a brand new, fully functional car. In any case, the protection rights that the buyers are entitled to go beyond warranty periods.

What Flaws Are Deemed Manufacturing Defects By The Automobile Lemon Law?

The list of defects is extensive; however, brake problems, electrical problems, engine problems, steering defects and transmission problems are considered as serious defects.

Under What Circumstances Are You Protected By The Automobile Lemon Law?

You will be protected by the Automobile Lemon Law only if your vehicle shows defects that correspond with those stipulated under the Automobile Lemon Law, like

- The vehicle has a manufacturing defect that affects its performance, value or safety.

- A constituent part or mechanism of the vehicle has been repaired more than thrice.

- The vehicle meets the maximum mileage law (actually, in some states a vehicle can not exceed a minimum number of miles in usage) and

- Enough opportunity has been given to the manufacturer to fix or propose a solution for the problem.

In case your ‘new bought' vehicle is showing each and every sign of the above specified problems, contact your state's Attorney General's Office and find out details on the Automobile Lemon Laws before filing a complaint with a Court of Law. If your vehicle does not show all the defects, you may still file a breach of guarantee case if not a full-fledged Lemon Lawsuit. The law of the land will see to it that you are amply compensated for the problems caused by the Lemon Automobile!

Remember, your Lemon Lawsuit will not be considered a valid case if you knowingly purchase a vehicle in ‘as is' condition.