Alabama Lemon Laws for New Vehicles

Requirements
The Alabama Lemon Laws will protect purchased new vehicles (except for motor homes) under ten thousand pounds in weight. Consumers of new vehicles enjoy an Alabama Lemon Law protection period for either twenty-four thousand miles or twenty-four months from the date of delivery. The expiration of either limit will mark the end of the protection period. This is true so long as the vehicle was purchased for personal use.

Malfunctions
The Alabama Lemon Laws only apply to vehicles whose warranty nonconformity prevents the vehicle from functioning, significantly impairs its safety, or drastically effects the market value. Under the Alabama Lemon Laws, both the manufacturer and the consumer must allow for three manufacturer repair attempts before the vehicle may be considered a lemon. A vehicle is inaccessible by the consumer due to repair for thirty or more days may be considered a lemon as well.

Responsible Party
The Alabama Lemon Laws hold the manufacturer responsible for an irreparable new vehicle. The only exceptions being if the warranty malfunction is the result of a consumer’s actions, negligence, or abuse.

Compensation
The consumer is entitled to either a replacement vehicle or a repurchase of the vehicle.

How To File
Step 1. Vehicle owners should begin to take action when a newly purchased vehicle does not perform according to warranty specifications

Step 2. It is very important that a vehicle owner be able to prove all the consequences of owning a vehicle that is not up to warranty standards. This includes nontangible events such as the vehicle stalling for several minutes. A written log with dated and specific entries is an excellent way of establishing a timeline so long as it is updated regularly as events occur.

Step 3. The Alabama Lemon Laws will require initial contact be made by the consumer to give the manufacturer an opportunity to repair the warranty malfunction. This should be done in the form of a written complaint and should be mailed via registered mail (with a return receipt request).

Step 4. In addition to the initial contact, consumers are required to give a final notice of repair should the warranty defect prove irreparable within reason. This should be done in writing and be considered a Final Notice to Repair, Replace or Repurchase. As with most correspondence with a manufacturer, this should be sent via registered mail with a return receipt request

Step 5. If the manufacturer warranty has a dispute resolution program listed within that is compliant with 16 C.F.R. 703, the consumer must participate in it. This will not obligate the consumer but is required for the consumer to be compliant with the Alabama Lemon Laws.

Step 6. If the consumer has exhausted their measures, wishes to avoid a lawsuit, but needs to have the issue settled then he/she may file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau Auto Line Program.