The New Jersey Lemon Law

The law applies to: 

• Passenger automobiles 
• Farm tractors 
• Authorized emergency vehicles 
• Motorcycles 

 

Both purchased and leased vehicles are covered. The law also extends to used vehicles but excludes the living facilities of motor homes. 

Determining if your vehicle is a lemon involves checking if it meets the criteria set by New Jersey law, including: 

• Your vehicle is still within the protection period (24,000 miles or two years) 
• The defects substantially impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety 
• The manufacturer has made a reasonable number of repair attempts without successfully fixing the defect 

The New Jersey lemon law covers you if: 

• You purchased or leased a motor vehicle in New Jersey other than for resale or sublease 
• You received a transferred vehicle during the duration of its warranty 
• You're entitled to enforce the obligations of the warranty 

Under New Jersey law, a 'reasonable number of attempts' to fix a vehicle is presumed if, within the first 24,000 miles or two years, any of the following occur: 

• The same nonconformity has been subject to repair three or more times and continues to exist 
• The vehicle is out of service for repairs for a cumulative total of 20 or more calendar days 
• A nonconformity that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury has been subject to at least one repair attempt and continues to exist 

If your vehicle is deemed a lemon in New Jersey, the manufacturer must repurchase it. They may offer to replace the vehicle instead, but you have the right to choose a refund over a replacement. 

If you have an unresolved dispute involving a defect covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty, BBB AUTO LINE may be able to assist you. BBB AUTO LINE is an out-of-court mediation and arbitration dispute resolution process in which many automobile manufacturers participate.