What Vehicles Does Lemon Law Cover?

If you are driving a vehicle that is constantly in need of repairs, you may be dealing with a situation known as a lemon. A vehicle is a lemon when it has substantial defects that the auto manufacturer cannot fix after several attempts.

All 50 states have lemon laws that cover specific types of vehicles. Mississippi’s lemon law does not cover all vehicles, which is why you must consult with an attorney to determine if your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Mississippi law. Ware Law Firm, PLLC, located in Magee, Mississippi, serves clients throughout Mississippi, including Covington, Simpson, Jefferson Davis, Southern Rankin, and Smith counties.

Lemon Law Protections

In Mississippi, lemon law protects consumers who purchase motor vehicles used for personal, household, or family purposes. Lemon law protections also apply to anyone who becomes the owner through the transfer of the car title during the warranty period.

Mississippi’s lemon law covers nonconformities, which are any defects or conditions that impair the value, use, or safety of the vehicle. However, lemon law protections do not apply when nonconformities occur due to neglect, unauthorized modifications, or abuse of the vehicle and/or its parts or features.

How Does Lemon Law Work?

In Mississippi, lemon law requires automobile manufactures to repair any nonconformities reported by consumers during the warranty period or within 12 months of the vehicle’s delivery to the consumer, whichever occurs earlier. However, auto manufacturers must make the necessary repairs even after the term of the express warranty expires or the one-year period passes.

Before the lemon law protections apply, the dealership where a consumer purchased the automobile has a chance to repair the nonconformity within a reasonable amount of time. In Mississippi, a reasonable amount of time is 15 days. If the dealer keeps the automobile for 15 or more business days or does not fix the problem after three attempts, lemon law protections apply.

However, there are also limits for bringing a lemon law claim in Mississippi. An action for lemon law protections must be commenced within a year after the expiration of the express warranty or 18 months after the date of the delivery of the vehicle to the consumer, whichever occurs earlier. Keep in mind that auto manufacturers are not liable under the lemon law if the reported nonconformities do not impair the value, use, or safety of the vehicle.

Which Vehicles Are Covered in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, vehicles are covered by lemon law if all of the following is true:

1. The vehicle was sold within the state;
2. The vehicle is operated over the state’s public highways and streets; and
3. The vehicle is used to transport persons and/or property.

The protections also apply to demonstrator (demo) vehicles and lease-purchase cars as long as they were sold with the manufacturer’s warranty. The protections do not extend to mopeds, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and parts/components of motor homes.

Which Vehicles Are Not Covered by Lemon Laws?

Under Mississippi’s lemon law, the protections apply to motor vehicles with an express warranty on them. Often, used vehicles may be covered by the lemon law unless they are no longer covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Lemon laws do not cover vehicles that are not operated on the state’s public highways and streets to transport people and property.

Mississippi’s lemon laws also do not cover off-road vehicles, including vehicles run on tracks, motor homes, mopeds, motorcycles, scooters, wheelchairs, and any power-assisted devices for mobility. Lemon laws also do not cover leased vehicles unless the laws were acquired by the new owner through a lease-purchase.

What Is Considered a Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts?

As mentioned earlier, Mississippi’s lemon law gives automobile manufacturers a chance to fix the problem before the lemon law claim can be brought. However, if the manufacturer fails to fix the nonconformity within a reasonable number of repair attempts, the consumer has a right to bring a claim for lemon law.

Under Mississippi law, a reasonable number of repair attempts means three unsuccessful attempts of the manufacturer to repair the nonconformity. If the nonconformity still exists after the third repair attempt or the dealer keeps the automobile for 15 or more business days, lemon law requires the manufacturer to replace or repurchase the vehicle.

Experienced Guidance You Can Trust

If you believe that your vehicle is a lemon, it is crucial to speak with an attorney to seek experienced legal guidance. The dedicated and knowledgeable lemon law attorney at Ware Law Firm, PLLC, in Magee, Mississippi, can help guide you through the process of filing a lemon law claim. Get a case review with Mr. Ware to discuss your situation and determine if Mississippi’s lemon law covers your vehicle. Mr. Ware serves clients throughout Mississippi, including Covington, Simpson, Jefferson Davis, Southern Rankin, and Smith counties.