Vehicle Lemon Law
Vehicle Lemon Law
Link to
Vehicles Branded under NJ Lemon Law 10/01/19
Division of Consumer Affairs
Office of Consumer Protection
Lemon Law Unit
PO Box 45026
Newark, NJ 07101
973-504-6226
The New Jersey Lemon Law Unit assists consumers who are experiencing defects in their new car, used car or motorized wheelchair or scooter. The unit responds to thousands of requests for assistance each year. Lemon Law applications are reviewed by the unit to see if the consumer qualifies for a hearing. If the application is accepted, the Lemon Law Unit will schedule the case to be heard at the Office of Administrative Law (O.A.L.) at one of its three (3) locations: Newark, Trenton or Atlantic City. Consumers can pick from among the available hearing dates.
At the hearing, the consumer is required to present facts that show that a defect currently exists and that it substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, value or safety of the vehicle or is a serious safety defect which is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven. The facts are determined from the documents, photographs or other evidence submitted as part of the consumer’s application package and from witness testimony.
The consumer may choose to have an attorney and/or an expert witness present at the hearing, but it is not required. If the consumer wins the case, the manufacturer or dealer will be ordered to repurchase the vehicle and issue a refund in accordance with the law.
Many Lemon Law cases are settled with the manufacturer or the dealer once an application has been accepted by the unit. Please select one of the available links for more details about each law and its requirements.
Information about the Law
13:45A-26.3 STATEMENTS TO CONSUMER; OTHER NOTICES a) At the time of purchase or lease of a motor vehicle in the State of New Jersey, the manufacturer, through its dealer or lessor, shall provide the following written statement in English and Spanish directly to the consumer on a separate piece of paper, in at least 10- point bold-face type:
IMPORTANT: IF THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFECT THAT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS ITS USE, VALUE OR SAFETY OR THAT IS LIKELY TO CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY IF DRIVEN, AND WAS PURCHASED, LEASED OR REGISTERED IN NEW JERSEY, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED UNDER NEW JERSEY’S LEMON LAW TO A REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OR YOUR LEASE PAYMENTS.
To qualify for relief under the New Jersey Lemon Law, you must give the manufacturer or its dealer the opportunity to repair or correct the defect in the vehicle within the Lemon Law’s term of protection, which is the first 24,000 miles of operation or two years after the vehicle’s original date of delivery, whichever is earlier.
If the manufacturer or its dealer is unable to repair or correct a defect within a reasonable time, you may be entitled to return the vehicle and receive a full refund, minus a reasonable allowance for vehicle use.
It is presumed that the manufacturer or its dealer is unable to repair or correct the defect if substantially the same defect continues to exist after the manufacturer has received written notice of the defect by certified mail, return receipt requested, and has had a final opportunity to correct the defect or condition within 10 calendar days after receipt of the notice. This notice must be received by the manufacturer within the term of protection and may be given only after (i) the manufacturer or its dealer has had two or more attempts to correct the defect; (ii) the manufacturer or its dealer has had at least one attempt to correct the defect if the defect is one that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven; or (iii) the vehicle has been out of service for repair for a cumulative total of 20 or more calendar days, or in the case of a motor home, 45 or more days.
If substantially the same defect continues to exist after the manufacturer has had the final opportunity to repair or correct the defect, you may file an application for relief under New Jersey’s Lemon Law.
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UNDER THE RELEVANT LAW, INCLUDING THE MANUFACTURER’S ADDRESS TO GIVE NOTICE OF THE DEFECT, CONTACT THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY, DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, LEMON LAW UNIT, AT POST OFFICE BOX 45026, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07101, TEL. NO. (973) 504-6226.
