- Eligibility: 4 unsuccessful repairs or 30 business days out of service within the shorter of 18 months or 18,000 miles.
- Resolution Attempt: Written notice to manufacturer only if manufacturer included this requirement in the warranty. Law specifically applies to leased vehicles.
Update: November 30, 2011
So you’ve recently purchased a vehicle, and realize that the mechanics are starting to see it more than you. If you think you have a lemon, Indiana’s lemon laws may get you the solutions you need.
An advisor at the Indiana Attorney General’s office explains how the first step to pursuing your claim is ensuring that it fits the requirements of a lemon law case.
“It must be new with less than 18,000 miles on it, had it 18 months or less, with a malfunction that a dealership has made several attempts to fix,” the advisor said of potential lemons.
While new vehicles are covered, the advisor explained that leased vehicles are usually held under different laws, and the statute does not apply motorcycles, or any commercial or recreational vehicles. While it is possible for consumers to pursue these cases on their own, the advisor does assert that there are options available.
“You can always file a complaint for our office at least to determine whether it is a lemon law case or at least get the vehicle repaired,” he said.
Pursuing a lemon law case proves advantageous should you win. The advisor remarked how the cases tend to lean towards the solution preference of the consumer.
“It is usually up to the consumer,” he said. “I have seen cases in which consumers are just really sick of having that car and not using it with confidence and they push to get it replaced …and then I’ve seen cases where they extend the warranty even more then when they originally bought.”
To get more information on what makes a lemon, or how to pursue your claim in Indiana, contact the Attorney General’s office at (317) 232-6201.
