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.
Start Your Free Consultation – Get Help Now
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 the Nevada 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, 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.
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. The 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.
Find Out If You’re Entitled to a Lemon Law Refund – Click Here
To qualify for protection under the Lemon Law, a vehicle must meet certain criteria:
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 apply to defective vehicle repair situations in three different ways:
Please keep in mind that the 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 case even if your vehicle doesn’t have this many repairs or time out of service. We believe your vehicle may still qualify as a “Lemon” if there are 3 repair attempts and/or 25 days out of service.
Find Out If You’re Eligible for Cash Compensation – Click Here
If you believe your motor vehicle qualifies as a Lemon under the Lemon Law, here’s how the process generally works:
The Nevada 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 Laws and warranty law in general, if your vehicle qualifies as a “Lemon,” you have several rights:
When your car or motorcycle is covered by the Nevada Lemon Law, over 95% of our cases are typically successfully resolved out-of-court in 1 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. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!
In valid Lemon Law cases, you are entitled to a refund (minus a reasonable allowance for use) or a new comparable replacement vehicle (by the same company) 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, Lemon Law protections don’t cover used vehicles if they are more than 1 year old, motor homes or ATV off road vehicles.
However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do if the 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 successful claim, 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.”
Alternatively, as a compromise, it may be possible to negotiate a significant cash compensation settlement for you with you keeping your car or motorcycle and having the manufacturer cover all legal expenses as part of the overall out-of-court settlement. This type of settlement can be attractive depending on whether your vehicle appears to finally be properly fixed, and also depending on the amount of compensation that is offered to you. The more substantial the compensation, the more likely you would be willing to entertain this type of Nevada Lemon Law resolution.
However, please don’t wait too long and potentially lose out on your 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.
Starting a Lemon Laws 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 Lemon Law Firm. They can help you navigate the process, guide you about how to gather the necessary evidence, and negotiate with the manufacturer on your behalf. Your lawyer will work to ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the remedies you deserve for your Lemon vehicle.
Navigating the Lemon Law can be challenging, especially when dealing with manufacturer representatives who are legally trained may try to avoid their obligations. Hiring an experienced Lemon Law Lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. Here’s how a lawyer can assist you:
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, 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.
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, or State Warranty Common Law.
Find Out More About Your Settlement Options – Click Here
If you feel that you have endured enough stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and irritation as a result of your “Lemon” vehicle, and that you deserve the compensation the 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!
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: 09/13/23
By: Shalev Amar, Esq.
Shalev Amar is the Founder and Manager of Amar Law Group. Prior to founding Amar Law Group, Mr. Amar was a Managing Partner for twelve years of a consumer law firm that exclusively handled motor vehicle claims on behalf of consumers.
