Posted: | December 12, 2016 03:55 PM |
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From: | Senator Stewart J. Greenleaf |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Auto Lemon Law: Repair Attempt for Serious Defect |
I am reintroducing Senate Bill 1023, amending the Automobile Lemon Law to provide for only one examination or repair attempt if the nonconformity is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. Under current law, if a defect cannot be repaired after three attempts or if the vehicle is out-of-service for a total of 30 calendar days for repairs or up to 120 days due to a natural disaster, a consumer may be eligible for a replacement vehicle or a refund of the purchase price minus an allowance for use. My legislation would, in the case of a life threatening defect, permit the manufacturer, its agents or authorized dealers only one examination or repair attempt before a consumer could seek relief under the law. A constituent informed me that several states limit repairs for serious or life threatening defects. Seven states (Arkansas, Hawaii, Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia) have lemon laws that provide one repair attempt for a defect that may cause death or serious injury. In addition, three states (Georgia, Maryland and Minnesota) provide for one repair attempt if it specifically involves a serious safety defect in the braking or steering system. |
Introduced as SB94