Lemon Car
A vehicle with a substantial defect that persists despite repair attempts. State lemon laws provide remedies.
Why it matters
A "lemon" is a vehicle with a substantial defect that the manufacturer has failed to repair after a reasonable number of attempts (typically 3-4 attempts for the same issue, or 30+ days out of service within the warranty period). State lemon laws define the exact thresholds. If your car qualifies, the manufacturer must refund or replace it. Document EVERYTHING — every repair invoice, every dealer phone call, every loaner-car pickup. File the lemon law request in writing to the manufacturer (not the dealer) with all documentation attached.
Related terms