Ohio Lemon Law: Your Rights When A New Car Goes Wrong
Buying a new car should give you peace of mind, not repeated trips to the repair shop. Unfortunately, some vehicles leave the dealership with serious defects that never seem to get fixed. When that happens, Ohio’s Lemon Law can provide important legal protections for consumers stuck with a defective vehicle.
What is Ohio’s Lemon Law?
Ohio’s Lemon Law is designed to protect consumers who purchase or lease new vehicles that have substantial defects. If a vehicle has a problem that significantly affects its use, safety, or value, and the manufacturer cannot repair it within a reasonable number of attempts, the law can require the manufacturer to provide a replacement vehicle or a refund.
The law generally applies to new cars, trucks, motorcycles, and certain leased vehicles. Used vehicles are typically not covered unless they are still under the manufacturer’s original warranty.
What qualifies a “lemon”?
A vehicle may qualify as a lemon if, within the first year or 18,000 miles (whichever comes first), one of the following occurs:
- The same defect has been repaired three or more times without success
- The vehicle is out of service for repair for 30 or more cumulative days
- A serious safety defect has been repaired at least once and continues to exist
Not every inconvenience qualifies. The defect must be substantial, not cosmetic, and must persist despite reasonable repair efforts.
What are your legal remedies?
If your vehicle qualifies under Ohio Lemon Law, the manufacturer, not the dealership, may be required to provide one of the following remedies:
- A replacement vehicle of comparable value
- A refund of the purchase price, including taxes, fees, and certain expenses
In many cases, consumers may also be entitled to recover attorney’s fees, meaning you can pursue a claim without paying legal fees out of pocket.
What consumers should do if problems arise
When a new car starts having repeated issues, keeping good documentation isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. As a car owner, you should:
- Keep all service and repair records, no matter how small
- Write down the dates, mileage, and specific problems you reported each time
- Give the authorized dealer a reasonable chance to fix the issue
- Avoid going to unauthorized repair shops, since that could void your warranty
One important thing to keep in mind: even if the problem is real, missing a required step, like giving proper notice to the manufacturer, can seriously weaken your case. Staying organized from the start puts you in the best position if you need to file a claim later on.
Common mistakes that consumers make
Many consumers unintentionally undermine their rights by:
- Waiting too long to act
- Continuing to drive a clearly unsafe vehicle
- Accepting repeated “temporary fixes” without documentation
- Assuming the dealer alone is responsible
Ohio Lemon Law claims involve strict timelines and procedural rules. Missing a deadline can mean losing your rights entirely.
Talk to a Dayton, OH, Lemon Law Lawyer Today
Kohl & Cook Law Firm, LLC, represents the interests of Dayton residents who have purchased a defective car. Call our Dayton lemon law attorney today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.
