The Arizona Lemon Law Explained in Plain English
Purchasing a vehicle should be a cause for celebration, but when you purchase a “lemon” it can feel more like a curse. If your car feels like it’s always in the shop for repairs, Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center® can help you collect the compensation you’re owed.
Arizona’s Lemon Law requires vehicle manufacturers to honor the warranties on the vehicles they sell. If the manufacturer fails to repair a defect after a reasonable number of attempts, you can return the vehicle and collect your choice of a refund or a replacement vehicle.
To qualify for compensation, the defect must substantially impair the use and value of the vehicle. So minor issues, like cosmetic imperfections, won’t get you a new car. Similarly, defects that occur because of abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications/alterations are not protected.
The law applies to any self-propelled vehicles that are meant for use primarily on public roads. However, the vehicle must weigh less than 10,000 lbs. And for motor homes, the Lemon Law only protects the vehicle and chassis. Components of the “home” in a mobile home, like appliances and plumbing, are not protected by the Arizona Lemon Law.
Eligible defects must be reported to the manufacturer within 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first) of the original purchase date. Or, if the vehicle’s warranty is shorter than 2 years, the defects must be reported before it expires.
If your vehicle meets these requirements, reach out to us today for a Free Case Review. Even after the initial review, we don’t charge for our services unless you prevail. And, thanks to the fee-shifting provisions in the Arizona Lemon Law, we bill the manufacturer for our service when we win, not you. Thus, you have nothing to lose, except of course your lemon.
What Qualifies as a Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts?
The Arizona Lemon Law provides manufacturers with four repair attempts. Alternatively, if the vehicle is out of service for repairs for a cumulative total of 30 calendar days or more, it’s a lemon. In either case, the repair attempts must take place within 2 years or 24,000 miles from the original purchase date or during the warranty period, whichever comes first.
And before you can file a Lemon Law claim, you must notify the manufacturer of the defect in writing. Once you’ve done so, you must provide them with one final attempt to complete the repair. So as soon as you think you might have a lemon, let us know. We can notify the manufacturer on your behalf and expedite the process as much as possible.
Read All FAQs for Arizona here.
The Arizona Lemon Law Process
After the manufacturer tries and fails to fix your defective vehicle for the final time, you need to try resolving the issue with a third-party arbitration board before you can file a legal claim. Most manufacturers have established arbitration procedures, but if yours doesn’t you can skip this step.
To file a claim for arbitration, you typically only need to submit the relevant documents to prove your case, which we can do for you. The board will review the claim and offer a ruling. Only you can decide whether their ruling is acceptable. If you aren’t satisfied with it, the next step is to file a claim in the courts, but fewer than 1% of our cases ever go to trial even if we have to file a claim with the court.
Why Choose Krohn & Moss as Your Arizona Lemon Law Firm?
- 25+ Years of Experience Turning “Lemons” into “Lemon-Aid”
- Over 50,000 Success Stories Nationwide
- Accomplished, Trustworthy Attorneys
- Responds to All Inquiries within 24 Hours
- No Fees Unless We Win Your Case
- We Always Seek Maximum Compensation for Clients
