Federal

16 C.F.R. PART 703-INFORMAL DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES

  STATE LEMON LAW CRITERIA

Alabama

Qualification: 3 unsuccessful repairs or 30 calendar days within shorter of 24 months or 24,000 miles, provided 1 repair attempt or 1 day out of service is within shorter of 1 year or 12,000 miles. Notification/Trigger: Certified mail notice to manufacturer + opportunity for final repair attempt within 14 calendar days.

Small claims courts, designed to provide a fast, efficient and inexpensive way to resolve claims of individuals against merchants or large corporations, are potentially a great resource to consumers. They are one of the best ways for consumers to settle disputes with a dealer, service station, repair shop, garage, or auto manufacturer.

THE MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT– AN OVERVIEW

In 1975 Congress adopted a piece of landmark legislation, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. The Act was designed to prevent manufacturers from drafting grossly unfair consumer warranties and to make it economically viable for consumers to bring warranty suits by providing for the award of attorney's fees. States built on the themes of the Magnuson-Moss Act by later passing their own lemon laws.