Get Compensation for Your Defective Vehicle
Wahington’s Lemon Law protects consumers by ensuring they get a refund or replacement for new, defective vehicles and a Washington Lemon Law Attorney can help you understand your options.
“Lemon Law protects owners and lessees of vehicles with persistent defects.” –– Joseph Novel, Esq.
founding attorney
Full refund, incl. taxes, fees, & remaining loan balance.
You’ll receive a new car of equal value.
Under the Washington Lemon Law, a vehicle qualifies when it has a nonconformity, meaning a defect or condition that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer has failed to fix it after a reasonable number of attempts. As defined in Washington Lemon Law RCW 19.118.021, the “warranty period” runs for two years or the first 24,000 miles from original delivery, whichever comes first. If your vehicle has an unresolved defect within that window, the Washington Lemon Law may entitle you to a full repurchase or replacement.
The Washington Lemon Law sets different thresholds depending on the type of defect. Under Washington Lemon Law RCW 19.118.041, the same nonconformity must have been subject to diagnosis or repair 4 or more times without being resolved, or the vehicle must have been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days. For serious safety defects, the threshold is lower: just 2 repair attempts without resolution can qualify. In all cases, at least one repair attempt must have occurred during the manufacturer’s written warranty period.
If your vehicle qualifies, the Washington Lemon Law requires the manufacturer to either replace the vehicle with an identical or reasonably equivalent new motor vehicle or repurchase it by refunding the full purchase price, all collateral charges, and incidental costs, less a reasonable offset for use. Under Washington Lemon Law RCW 19.118.041, the consumer gets to choose which remedy they prefer. The Washington Lemon Law is designed to make you whole, so don’t settle for less than what you’re entitled to.
The Washington Lemon Law covers new motor vehicles originally purchased or leased at retail from a dealer in Washington state and initially registered here. It also extends to subsequent transferees who acquire the vehicle within the warranty period with an applicable manufacturer’s warranty still in place. If you purchased a vehicle that was still within its warranty period and it has an unresolved defect, a Washington Lemon Law attorney can help you determine whether you qualify.
Yes, and it’s especially important given the process involved. Under the Washington Lemon Law, consumers must exhaust the new motor vehicle arbitration board remedy before filing a superior court action, and the manufacturer has 40 days from receiving the consumer’s written request to repurchase or replace the vehicle. A Washington Lemon Law attorney can help you submit a proper written request, navigate the arbitration process, and ensure your documentation supports the strongest possible case.
