Nevada Lemon Law: Your Roadmap to Automotive Justice

When you purchase a new vehicle, you expect it to function properly and provide you with dependable, reliable transportation. However, what happens when your new vehicle turns out to be a constant source of frustration and distress due to recurring defects and repairs?

Fortunately, the State of Nevada has enacted a powerful consumer protection law known as the “Nevada Lemon Law” to safeguard your rights as a vehicle owner.

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If your car or motorcycle needs to be repaired repeatedly for the same defect or condition, or if the amount of time it takes to complete warranty repairs is unreasonable, you may be entitled to protection under Nevada’s Lemon Law.

In this helpful guide from our experienced Lemon Laws attorney, we’ll explore what the Nevada Lemon Law is, how it works, what qualifies as a “Lemon”, and how you can take advantage of this law to seek remedies for your automotive woes. Our goal is to provide you with the guidance you need to understand your rights and take proper legal action.

The Nevada Lemon Law Explained

The Nevada Lemon Law, officially titled the “Nevada New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act” (NRS 597.600 – 597.688¹), is designed to provide relief to consumers who unknowingly purchase or lease vehicles that are plagued by ongoing warranty issues or defects that take too many times or too long to repair.

This law applies to new vehicles purchased or leased in Nevada, as well as vehicles transferred during the time the manufacturer’s warranty on the vehicle is in effect. Nevada’s Lemon Law offers recourse for consumers who find themselves stuck with a “Lemon” – a vehicle that has substantial defects that impair its use and value which are repaired and unreasonable amount of repair attempts or days.

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What Qualifies as a “Lemon” Vehicle in Nevada?

To qualify for protection under Nevada’s Lemon Law, a vehicle must meet certain criteria:

• Substantial Defects: The vehicle must have one or more substantial defects, nonconformities, or conditions that significantly impair its use and value.
• Repetitive Repairs: The defect(s), nonconformity(s), or condition(s) persist despite a reasonable number of attempts to repair by the manufacturer or its authorized dealership repair facilities during the vehicle’s manufacturer’s warranty period.
• Coverage Period: The defects, nonconformities, or conditions must be reported to the manufacturer or authorized repairing dealer within the vehicle’s original warranty period, or within one year from the date of delivery to the original consumer, whichever comes first.
• Number of Repair Attempts: The law presumes a “reasonable number of repair attempts” have been undertaken if there are 4 attempts to repair the same defect, nonconformity, or condition, and/or a total of 30 calendar days out of service for repairs. However, in our view, a vehicle may still qualify as a “Lemon” if there are 3 attempts to repair and/or 25 days out of service.
• Safety Hazards: If a defect, nonconformity, or condition poses a substantial safety hazard that could result in serious injury or death, it may be subject to Nevada’s Lemon Law even if fewer attempts to repair have been made,

This makes sense because, like the majority of owners, you paid a new car or motorcycle price to ensure reliability and to avoid dealing with aggravating and time-consuming used vehicle repair issues.

Presumptions That Apply Under the Lemon Law

Presumptions apply to defective vehicle repair situations in three different ways:

1. Even if your vehicle spends only four days in the repair shop, a Lemon Law presumption exists if it needs four or more warranty repairs for the same issue.
2. It doesn’t matter if your vehicle has only one warranty repair if it takes 30 days or more to complete. You’d still get the benefit of the time out-of-service presumption.
3. If your vehicle is out-of-service for 30 or more days, the repairs do not have to be for the same issue. Moreover, the repair time can be added up over separate repair attempts to meet the 30 day presumption within the 1 year Lemon Law period.

Please keep in mind that Nevada’s Lemon Law presumptions are not an obstacle to your recovery if they are not met. Instead, they are designed to assist you in showing that your vehicle is a “Lemon”.

If the entire repair history of your car or motorcycle is unreasonable under the circumstances, you can still have a valid Lemon Law case even if your vehicle doesn’t have this many repairs or time out of service. We believe your vehicle may still qualify under the Nevada Lemon Law as a “Lemon” if there are 3 attempts to repair the same defect, nonconformity, or condition, and/or 25 days out-of-service for warranty repairs.

How Nevada’s  Lemon Law Works

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If you believe your motor vehicle qualifies under Nevada’s Lemon Law, here’s how the process generally works:

• Document Your Complaints: Keep detailed records (called work orders or repair orders) of all repairs authored by the repairing dealership(s), including dates and mileage, descriptions of defects and repairs to address them, and whether the repairs are covered under warranty. Proper documentation is crucial when pursuing a Lemon Law claim, so always insist on being provided repair records by the manufacturer’s authorized repairing dealership whenever your vehicle has been repaired under warranty.
• Give Them a Chance to Repair Your Vehicle: It is not enough to have a defect, condition, or nonconformity in your vehicle to qualify for Lemon Law help. The manufacturer or its authorized dealership repair facilities must also be given a reasonable opportunity to repair the defect, condition, or nonconformity. With that being said, they must make all necessary repairs within a reasonable number of attempts or time.
• Notify the Manufacturer: Hire a Nevada Lemon Law Attorney to inform the vehicle manufacturer in writing about your vehicle defects, unreasonable repair history, and your intention to seek remedies under the Lemon Law. It is always better to have a legally trained professional do this for you, rather than attempt to do so on your own because you could end up unintentionally making a legal mistake that could harm your claim. Look at it like a medical issue. Would you ever do surgery on yourself?
• Legal Representation: You have the right to seek legal counsel from a Nevada Lemon Law Lawyer to guide you through the out-of-court resolution process and protect your interests in receiving all the legal compensation you’re entitled to. Keep in mind that attorneys’ have a fiduciary duty to you, meaning a duty to act in your best interests. Car manufacturers have no duty to you and typically just care about their own bottom-line, not compensating you fairly.

What Are My Lemon Law Rights?

Nevada’s Lemon Law and other consumer protection laws exist to ensure that consumers are not stuck with vehicles that are dangerous, unreliable, or unsafe. Your Nevada Lemon Law rights are as follows.

Under the Lemon Law and warranty law in general, if your vehicle qualifies as a “Lemon,” you have several rights:

• Refund or Replacement: You may be entitled to a refund of the purchase price of your defective vehicle or a new replacement vehicle of comparable value (same model with the same features). The choice between a refund or replacement is generally yours, but both sides have to agree on the result when it comes to settlement.
• Reimbursement: You can request reimbursement for repair costs if you were improperly charged for repairs that should have been covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
• Legal Fees: If your Lemon Law claim is resolved successfully, the car manufacturers are generally responsible for paying your attorney’s fees and costs under federal warranty law.

When your car or motorcycle is covered by Nevada’s Lemon Law, over 95% of our cases are typically successfully resolved out-of-court in 2 to 4 months without a lawsuit. There are some limited exceptions if the vehicle manufacturer involved has a high case volume or staffing issues, but our Firm follows up consistently to make sure claims are processed by the companies as quickly as possible because the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

In valid Lemon Law cases, you are entitled to a refund of the purchase price (minus a reasonable allowance for use) or a new comparable replacement vehicle (by the same company with the same features) without ever having to set foot in a courtroom. The manufacturer of your defective vehicle can also be required to cover legal fees as part of your out-of-court settlement thanks to additional applicable warranty law.

Unfortunately, NV Lemon Law protections don’t cover used vehicles if they are more than 1 year old, motor homes, boats or ATV off road vehicles.

However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do if the Nevada Lemon Law doesn’t apply. Fortunately, there is a Federal Lemon Law that does apply to these types of vehicles, so please check out our Federal Lemon Law page for information on your rights and available compensation options under that law.

Find Out If You’re Entitled to a New Vehicle – Click Here

At the time of a successfully resolved claim where your vehicle get reacquired, it’s the responsibility of the manufacturer to retitle such a vehicle in their name, affix a decal to it, and ask the DMV to mark the title documents as a Lemon Law Buyback. This Lemon Law Buyback designation helps to protect other consumers in the future as well.

Alternatively, as a compromise, it may be possible to negotiate a significant cash compensation settlement for you with you keeping your car or motorcycle (called “Cash and Keep”) including the manufacturer covering all legal expenses as part of the overall out-of-court settlement.

This type of Nevada Lemon Law settlement can be attractive depending on whether your vehicle appears to finally be properly repaired, and also (obviously) depending on the amount of compensation that is offered to you. The more substantial the compensation, the more likely you are to be satisfied with this type of Nevada Lemon Law resolution.

However, don’t wait too long and potentially lose out on your Nevada Lemon Laws right to compensation because there is a strict 18-month time limit on bringing a Lemon Law claim from the date your vehicle is first put into service.

How Do I Start a Case?

Starting a Lemon Law case in Nevada on your own can be complex and full of legal pitfalls. That’s why it’s advisable to seek the assistance of an experienced Nevada Lemon Law Firm such as Amar Law Group. Our Firm can help you navigate the out-of-court resolution process , guide you on how to gather the necessary evidence, and negotiate with the manufacturer on your behalf to reach an out-of-court settlement as we’ve done in 1000’s of cases over the years. We call this our 3-Step Out-of-Court Lemonaid Process.  Your Lemon Law Lawyer will work to ensure that your rights are protected through this process and that you receive the compensation (a Repurchase, New Vehicle Replacement, or Cash and Keep) you deserve for your “Lemon” motor vehicle.

Your Trusted Lemon Law Partner

Navigating the Lemon Law can be challenging, especially when dealing with manufacturer representatives who are legally trained to avoid their Lemon Law obligations. Hiring an experienced Lemon Law Lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.

Here’s how a Lemon Law advocate lawyer can assist you:

• Legal Expertise: A Lemon Law attorney focuses solely on this area of law and understands the nuances of Nevada Lemon Law claims.
• Negotiation Skills: Your lawyer can negotiate with the manufacturer to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation or remedy allowed under the law.
• Documentation: Our legal team will guide you about how to gather and organize the necessary documentation to strengthen your case.
• Representation: Your lawyer can represent you in the 3-Step  Out-of-Court Lemonaid resolution process and also in court proceedings if a resolution cannot be reached through negotiation.  Luckily, 95% of Amar Law Group’s cases are resolved out-of-court with no hearings to attend.
• No Out-of-Pocket Costs: Many Lemon Law attorneys (including the attorneys at Amar Law Group) work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that as long as you abide by the terms of representation, they only get paid if you win your case by resolving it in your favor.

The Nevada Lemon Law is a powerful tool that protects consumers from the frustration and financial burden of owning a “Lemon” vehicle. If you believe your vehicle qualifies as a “Lemon” under Nevada Law, remember to obtain documentation of your complaints and repairs from the repair shop, and then to seek legal representation immediately.

With the right approach, you can protect your rights and seek fair compensation for your “Lemon”, ensuring that your investment in a reliable “new” vehicle was not in vain and that you don’t remain saddled with a Lemon.

Alternative Paths to Compensation

Beyond the Lemon Law, there are several other legal avenues for your defective vehicle situation we can use to obtain cash compensation for you. You may also be entitled to substantial cash compensation under the Nevada Uniform Commercial Code², the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (Federal Lemon Law) or State Warranty Common Law.

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Our Nevada Lemon Law Attorney Team is here to help you!

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If you feel that you have endured enough stress, uncertainty, and irritation as a result of your “Lemon” vehicle, and that you deserve the compensation the Nevada Lemon Law entitles you to, please provide your vehicle repair information on our Free Nevada Lemon Law Evaluation page. We look forward to speaking with you and to successfully guiding you through our out-of-court Lemonaid compensation process as we’ve done for 1000s of clients since 2004!

We’d be glad to help you work toward a potential new replacement vehicle, or describe what terms like reasonable allowance in a Buyback means under the Lemon Law. Click above to fill out our Lemon Law Evaluation form to get started now!

Sources

[1] – https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-597.html
[2] – https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-104.html

Last Updated: 12/08/24

Most Popular Cultural Events in the Great State of Nevada

Nevada is arguably one of the more diverse, cultural states within the United States, with a wide variety of interesting, unique and, even, bizarre well-known events throughout the year. While Nevada’s Lemon Laws are incredibly important to discuss, including topics such as reasonable allowance and purchase price refunds, we wanted to take a few moments to mention these events.

Within the last decade, the Reno Film Festival has become a major event that has drawn in lots of top talent, both newer to the scene and well-known stars. The event showcases the latest movies before they hit the theaters (and, sometimes, the Oscars). Burning Man, an event dedicated to art, self-expression, and self-reliance, takes place yearly in Black Rock Desert. Part festival, part experiment, it draws a lot of attention for how unique and primal the event is while attendees spend time on the playa. Many attendees bring artistic off road vehicles to use during burn week.

And finally, rounding out the Top 3 events, is Artown. Each July, the city of Reno transforms into “Artown”, one of the largest art and cultural events in the nation. Typically, there’s over 300+ free and low cost events that include performance art, film, drumming, painting, and more. It’s an internationally recognized event that draws over 100,000+ visitors to the area all month long.