Lemon Law Demand Letter

LEMON LAW DEMAND LETTER

Final Opportunity to Repair / Demand for Replacement or Refund

CONSUMER INFORMATION

Name(s): ☐ _______________________________________________

Address: ☐ _______________________________________________

City, State, ZIP: ☐ _______________________________________________

Phone: ☐ _______________________________________________

Email: ☐ _______________________________________________

Date: ☐ _______________________________________________

MANUFACTURER INFORMATION

Manufacturer Name: ☐ _______________________________________________

Consumer Affairs/Lemon Law Department

Address: ☐ _______________________________________________

City, State, ZIP: ☐ _______________________________________________

COPY SENT TO:

☐ Selling Dealer:

Name: _______________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

☐ Servicing Dealer (if different):

Name: _______________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

SENT VIA:

☐ Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested

Tracking Number: ☐ _______________________________________________

Date Sent: ☐ _______________________________________________

VEHICLE INFORMATION

Type of Acquisition:

☐ Purchase (Cash)

☐ Purchase (Financed)

• Lender: _______________
• Account #: _______________

☐ Lease

• Lessor: _______________
• Lease #: _______________

NOTICE OF LEMON LAW CLAIM

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to the ☐ _______________ [State] Lemon Law (☐ _______________ [cite statute]) and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.), I hereby notify you that my vehicle qualifies as a "lemon" and I am demanding either a replacement vehicle or a full refund.

This letter serves as:

☐ Final Opportunity Notice before pursuing legal remedies

☐ Formal demand under state lemon law requirements

☐ Required pre-litigation notice

I. DEFECT DESCRIPTION

The vehicle has the following substantial defect(s) that impair its use, value, and/or safety:

Primary Defect(s):

Defect #1:

☐ Description: _______________________________________________

☐ Symptoms: _______________________________________________

☐ When first noticed: _______________________________________________

☐ Does this defect affect safety? ☐ Yes / ☐ No

Defect #2:

☐ Description: _______________________________________________

☐ Symptoms: _______________________________________________

☐ When first noticed: _______________________________________________

☐ Does this defect affect safety? ☐ Yes / ☐ No

Defect #3:

☐ Description: _______________________________________________

☐ Symptoms: _______________________________________________

☐ When first noticed: _______________________________________________

☐ Does this defect affect safety? ☐ Yes / ☐ No

II. REPAIR HISTORY

The defect(s) have been subject to the following repair attempts:

Repair Attempt #1

Repair Attempt #2

Repair Attempt #3

Repair Attempt #4

Summary of Repair Attempts

III. LEMON LAW QUALIFICATION

My vehicle qualifies as a "lemon" under applicable law because:

State Lemon Law Threshold (check applicable)

☐ Repair Attempt Threshold Met:

• ☐ Three (3) or more repair attempts for the same substantial defect
• ☐ Four (4) or more repair attempts for the same defect
• ☐ One (1) repair attempt for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury
• ☐ Other state-specific threshold: _______________

☐ Days Out of Service Threshold Met:

• ☐ Vehicle out of service for 30 or more cumulative days
• ☐ Vehicle out of service for ___ days (state-specific)
• ☐ Out-of-service days occurred within warranty period

☐ Combined Defects Threshold:

• ☐ Five (5) or more repair attempts for varying defects that substantially impair use/value

Timing Requirements

☐ All defects first reported within warranty period

☐ Defects occurred within:

• ☐ First 18 months / 18,000 miles
• ☐ First 24 months / 24,000 miles
• ☐ Other: _______________

☐ Within statute of limitations: _______________

IV. DEMAND FOR RELIEF

Based on the foregoing, I hereby demand that you:

Option 1: REPLACEMENT VEHICLE

☐ I elect a replacement vehicle pursuant to the lemon law.

Replacement Vehicle Requirements:

☐ Same make, model, and trim level

☐ Comparable value if identical model not available

☐ New, unused vehicle

☐ Transfer of all warranties to replacement vehicle

☐ Payment of all incidental costs (taxes, registration, fees)

Option 2: REFUND (BUYBACK)

☐ I elect a full refund pursuant to the lemon law.

Refund Calculation:

Mileage Offset Calculation (if applicable):

Most state lemon laws allow a mileage offset for use prior to the first report of the defect.

• Miles at first repair attempt: ☐ _______________
• Purchase price: $☐ _______________
• Expected useful life miles: ☐ _______________ (typically 100,000-120,000)
• Offset formula: (Miles at first repair / Expected life) x Purchase Price
• Offset amount: $☐ _______________

Additional Demands

☐ Pay off existing financing/lease obligation directly to lender/lessor

☐ Reimburse incidental expenses:

• Rental car costs: $_______________
• Towing charges: $_______________
• Lost wages: $_______________
• Other: $_______________

☐ Provide written satisfaction of all liens

☐ Issue title transfer documents

V. FINAL REPAIR OPPORTUNITY (IF REQUIRED)

☐ This section applies if state law requires a final repair opportunity

Pursuant to ☐ _______________ [State] law, I am providing you with one final opportunity to repair the defect(s) before pursuing legal remedies.

To schedule the final repair attempt:

☐ Contact me within ☐ ___ days of receipt of this letter

☐ Schedule the repair within ☐ ___ days of contact

☐ Complete the repair within ☐ ___ days of vehicle delivery to dealer

If the defect is not repaired during the final opportunity:

☐ I will pursue all legal remedies including litigation

☐ I will seek attorney's fees under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

☐ I will file for arbitration through: _______________

VI. RESPONSE DEADLINE

I demand a written response to this letter within ☐ ___ days (typically 10-30 days per state law) of your receipt.

Your response should include:

☐ Acceptance of my demand for replacement or refund

☐ Proposed date for vehicle inspection (if required)

☐ Contact information for your representative handling this claim

☐ If you dispute my claim, a detailed explanation of your position

VII. CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE

If I do not receive a satisfactory response within the stated deadline, I intend to pursue all available legal remedies, including:

☐ State Lemon Law Litigation:

• Replacement or refund
• Civil penalty (2x damages in some states for willful violations)
• Attorney's fees and costs

☐ Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. § 2310):

• Damages
• Attorney's fees if consumer prevails

☐ State Consumer Protection/UDAP Laws:

• Treble damages (where applicable)
• Attorney's fees

☐ Arbitration through your manufacturer's program or state-sponsored program

☐ Complaints to:

• State Attorney General
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Better Business Bureau Auto Line
• State motor vehicle agency

VIII. DOCUMENTATION ENCLOSED

☐ Copy of purchase agreement/lease

☐ Copy of all repair orders

☐ Photos/videos of defect (if applicable)

☐ Copy of warranty booklet

☐ Receipts for incidental expenses

☐ Timeline of events

☐ Other: _______________________________________________

IX. ACKNOWLEDGMENT REQUEST

Please acknowledge receipt of this demand letter and confirm:

1. The name and contact information of the person assigned to handle this claim
2. Your position on whether my vehicle qualifies under the lemon law
3. Your proposed resolution

Send acknowledgment to:

Name: ☐ _______________________________________________

Address: ☐ _______________________________________________

Email: ☐ _______________________________________________

Phone: ☐ _______________________________________________

This demand is sent without prejudice to any rights or remedies available under federal or state law.

Sincerely,

_________________________________________________
[Signature]

_________________________________________________
[Printed Name]

_________________________________________________
[Date]

SENDER'S CHECKLIST

Before Sending:

☐ Verify state lemon law requirements are met:

• ☐ Repair attempt threshold
• ☐ Days out of service threshold
• ☐ Timing requirements

☐ Gather all repair orders with dates and descriptions

☐ Calculate refund amount including all fees paid

☐ Identify correct manufacturer address for lemon law claims

☐ Make copies of all enclosures (never send originals)

☐ Send via certified mail, return receipt requested

☐ Keep copy of complete package for records

After Sending:

☐ Save certified mail receipt

☐ Save return receipt (green card) when received

☐ Calendar response deadline

☐ Document any communications

☐ Consult with lemon law attorney if no satisfactory response

STATE LEMON LAW VARIATIONS

Repair Attempt Thresholds by State (examples - verify current law):

Note: State lemon laws vary significantly. Always verify your specific state's requirements.

LEGAL REFERENCES

Federal Law:

• Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. § 2301-2312)
• FTC Used Car Rule (16 C.F.R. § 455) - for used vehicles

State Lemon Laws (examples):

• California: Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.2 (Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act)
• Texas: Tex. Occ. Code § 2301.601 et seq.
• New York: N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 198-a
• Florida: Fla. Stat. § 681.10 et seq.

Helpful Resources:

• NHTSA Complaints: nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem
• BBB AUTO LINE: bbb.org/autoline
• Center for Auto Safety: autosafety.org

This template is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Lemon law requirements vary significantly by state. Consult with a qualified lemon law attorney for advice specific to your situation and state.