lemon law
Lemon laws are state statutes that provide remedies to consumers who purchase defective vehicles that cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. These laws typically apply to new vehicles, though some jurisdictions extend protection to used vehicles.
Under lemon laws, if a manufacturer or authorized dealer is unable to fix a substantial defect within a reasonable number of attempts or within a specified period of time, the consumer may be entitled to a replacement vehicle, a refund, or other compensation. What constitutes a reasonable number of attempts varies by jurisdiction, but often includes repeated unsuccessful repair attempts for the same defect or a vehicle being out of service for a substantial period, commonly around 30 days.
See also: consumer protection laws, and Justia's Consumer Protection Law Center on Lemon Law.
[Last reviewed in April of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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