- Arizona lemon law makes provisions for used vehicles as well.lemon image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
Every state has its own version of the lemon law---a consumer protection law that offers recourse in the event a person purchases a defective vehicle. Lemon laws apply statewide and remain the same in every city and town. Scottsdale, Arizona does not have its own set of laws that differ in any way from Arizona law. Anyone with questions about Arizona's lemon law or any other consumer law should contact the state attorney general's office. - Arizona's lemon law applies to new and used vehicles. The legal statute defines a covered vehicle as any self-propelled vehicle designed for use on public roadways that weighs less than 10,000 pounds. This includes cars and motorcycles but excludes ATVs and other off-road vehicles. It also covers the chassis of motor homes but not parts related to the living space of the home.
- Arizona's lemon law offers consumers protection in the event the vehicle experiences defects that significantly impact use, safety and/or value within a certain time frame. The problems must occur during the manufacturer's warranty period or the first two years after delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever period is shortest.
- To qualify under as a lemon vehicle under Arizona law, the vehicle must meet one of two criteria. In the first instance, the vehicle undergoes at least four unsuccessful repair attempts for the same problem. In the second instance, the vehicle was out of service for at least 30 cumulative days during the protection period due to repairs of one or more problems.
If any of these factors present themselves, the consumer can request a refund or replacement from the manufacturer. Consumers should keep accurate repair records to support their claims. - If the matter has not been resolved to the consumer's satisfaction, she can pursue dispute resolution options. If the manufacturer has a dispute resolution program that meets the criteria set forth by the Federal Trade Commission (check with attorney general if not sure), Arizona law requires that consumers use this avenue first before resorting to legal action. The consumer does not have to accept whatever decision has been handed down and can file a civil suit. If the consumer wins in court, the manufacturer also has to pay the plaintiff's attorney's fees and any other costs associated with the suit, such as filing fees.
To retain the rights under this law, consumers must bring action against the manufacturer within six months of the expiration of the protection period that applies to their vehicle. - The Arizona lemon law has a component that applies to used vehicles in very limited circumstances. If a consumer purchases a used vehicle where a major component breaks within 15 days of the purchase or the first 500 miles, he can recover what he paid for the vehicle but nothing more. The law permits the dealer to make two repairs on the vehicle and cannot require the consumer to contribute more than $25 each time toward the cost of the repair.
