Top Links
North Carolina Lemon Law
The North Carolina Lemon Law, also known as the New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act (N.C.G.S. 20-351), applies to new passenger cars, pick-up trucks, motorcycles and most vans bought in North Carolina. It requires automakers to repair defects that affect the use, value, or safety of a new motor vehicle within the first 24 months or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first).
Your car may be covered by the North Carolina Lemon Law if:
- The problem occurs in some part of the vehicle that is covered by the manufacturer's warranty and appears within the warranty period, but it does not need to be something that keeps the car off the road. For example, faulty air conditioning or peeling paint could be considered defects under the lemon law.
- You tell the manufacturer about the problem in writing and give them a reasonable period, but not more than 15 calendar days, to fix it.
- The manufacturer makes “a reasonable number of attempts” to fix the vehicle. This means that the car has undergone repairs for the same problem four or more times, or that it has been out of service 20 or more business days over 12 months.
- The manufacturers’ efforts to fix the lemon fail. Under the law, they must either replace your car or buy it back. You get to decide between a comparable new car or a refund.
- It is also a good idea to read your warranty to find out what kind of remedies your manufacturer might offer outside of the lemon law.
News Clippings
^ Top | Copyright © North Carolina Lemon Law
