Lemon Law in Missouri
Missouri Lemon Law
If you've just gone into debt for a brand new set of wheels, it can be frustrating to discover that your new car has some serious problems. Fortunately, the Missouri New Vehicles Warranty Law can help. Also known as the " lemon law", this statute protects drivers by forcing manufacturers to honor a vehicle's express warranty.
Basically, the lemon law requires vehicle manufacturers to replace or refund your defective vehicle after a reasonable number of failed attempts have been made to fix the problem.
Lemon Law Criteria & Rights in Missouri
The Missouri lemon law covers purchased and lease-purchased vehicles that are under the manufacturer's new vehicle warranty.
The following vehicles are not protected by the MO lemon law:
- Commercial vehicles.
- Off-road vehicles.
- Mopeds.
- Motorcycles.
- The living quarters of motorhomes and recreational vehicles.
To qualify for protection under the Missouri New Vehicles Warranty Law, your vehicle must have been out of service for 30 business days or more, or has had 4 attempts or more to repair the vehicle. If your complaint is found to be valid, you will be entitled to either a replacement vehicle or a refund of the vehicle's purchase price.
Filing a MO Lemon Law Complaint
Before you can file a legal complaint under the Missouri New Vehicles Warranty Law, you must provide a formal notice to the vehicle's manufacturer to allow the company a final opportunity to correct the problem. The manufacturer then has 10 calendar days to repair the vehicle after delivery to a designated dealer.
If the manufacturer is not able to fix your vehicle's defect after the final attempt, it will either:
- Offer you a replacement vehicle.
- Refund your original purchase.
OR - Dispute the fact that your car is a lemon.
Arbitration & Court
If a manufacturer denies your request, you can either begin an informal dispute process through arbitration, or file a lawsuit if the manufacturer does not offer an informal dispute service. Check your vehicle owner's manual or contact the manufacturer for details.
For more information about the Missouri lemon law and your options, please contact the Missouri Attorney General consumer protection hotline at (800) 392-8222.
Hiring a MO Lemon Law Attorney
An attorney with experience in MO lemon law can benefit your case in a number of ways:
- They will understand the details of the state's lemon law and can explain them to you.
- They can ensure you don't do or say anything to damage your chances of a successful outcome.
- They can ensure you gather all the evidence you need to get your manufacturer to comply.
- They can help you through arbitration and or a lawsuit, if necessary.
Not only will you have additional confidence with an attorney at your side, but you'll also have a much better chance of obtaining a successful outcome.
Hiring Your Lemon Lawyer
When searching for a lawyer, be sure to ask about the following:
- Experience with lemon law cases in Missouri.
- Case track record.
- Fees and payments.
It's also important to make sure that you feel comfortable with the lemon law lawyer representing you. You have thousands of dollars on the line, so you want someone you trust and have confidence in.