1. What kind of vehicles are covered by the Lemon Law?
Cars, trucks and any vehicle normally used on a highway, except for motorhomes, motorcycles, mopeds, farm tractors and equipment, and any vehicle that has more than two axles.
2. Are there other laws, besides the Lemon Law, that can help me?
Sure. Kentucky residents have strong consumer protection laws to protect them, including the Federal Lemon Law, the Kentucky Consumer Act, and the Kentucky Commercial Code.
3. What is a “lemon”?
It’s a vehicle still under warranty that has a problem that “substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the vehicle” to you and which the dealer has not fixed within a reasonable number of chances.
4. Does the Lemon Law cover a leased car?
Yes. It doesn’t matter whether you leased it or bought it.
5. The manufacturer wants to give me an extended warranty instead of replacing my car. What happens if I accept it?
You could lose all your Lemon Law rights, so be very sure that you can live with the result. Extending the warranty is a very cheap way out for the manufacturer. What you really are getting is the promise that they’ll try “one more time” when more things go wrong in the future. Are you sure that’s what you want?
6. How many chances do I have to give the dealer to fix my car?
If the same defect is worked on 4 times and still exists after that, then it’s a lemon. At that point you have a right to ask for your money back or a new car that runs right.
7. How long do I have to let them work on my car?
A total of 30 days out of service is the maximum allowed for the same defect in the first year or 12,000 miles before the vehicle is a lemon. Keep track of the days out of service, count weekends and holidays, too, and the days do not have to be consecutive (it can be 2 days here plus 6 days there, etc), and when you arrive on “day 31” you can legally call your car a lemon.
8. I have a lemon car and they want to replace it but I just want my money back. Do I have to take another car from them?
No. You are the one who gets to decide what you want to do under the Lemon Law, either make them buy it back or make them replace it with one that runs right. You do not have to accept the choice that the manufacturer wants you to take.
9. I think my used car was bought back before by the manufacturer and the dealer didn’t tell me when I bought it. Should I be concerned about that?
Yes. Many people believe in the saying “once a Lemon, always a Lemon” and they just won’t pay much for a “buyback” lemon car. The market value of a lemon just isn’t the same as a car that has always run right. To learn more about Lemon Laundering click here.
10. Should I let them work on it again?
Probably not without talking with a Lemon Law Lawyer first; if they get it fixed they may tell you that it’s too late then for you to do anything about it — so, be careful!
