New Jersey State Lemon Law May Get An Upgrade

The state Senate yesterday approved legislation that would expand protection of new car buyers under the state's "Lemon Law" by widening the window for which a car is eligible for free repairs from 18,000 miles to 24,000 miles. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 35-2 and now awaits consideration by the Assembly.

"The driving habits of New Jersey residents have dramatically changed in the 17 years since the 'Lemon Law' was first passed," said Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), a sponsor of the bill. "With drivers commuting much farther today than they did two decades ago, 18,000 miles no longer provides the coverage the average car buyer deserves."

The bill (S-454) would amend the "Lemon Law," which protects purchasers of new automobiles or motorcycles that fail to meet certain standards of quality and performance. While the bill would expand protection under the law to 24,000 miles, it would keep the maximum time of the protection at two years.

In addition, the bill would create a distinction in the "Lemon Law" between general defects and defects that are "likely to cause death or serious bodily injury." For defects that are likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, the manufacturer would have just one chance to fix the defect before requiring the car be replaced. For non-lethal defects, dealers would be held to the current standard which allows three attempts to fix the defect before replacing the vehicle.

"When someone’s safety is at risk, three repair attempts are two too many," said Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), a sponsor of the bill.

The bill also requires that dealers provide information to customers regarding the state's "Lemon Law."

Article by Scott Goldstein, NJBiz.com

New Jersey Lemon Law Statutes