The New and Improved New Jersey Lemon Law

New Jersey Governor. Jon S. Corzine, has signed into law a new and improved New Jersey lemon law. The changes enhance consumer protections and provide greater rights to owners of lemon cars throughout New Jersey.

Under the old New Jersey Lemon Law, owners of defective cars in New Jersey were only covered if their vehicle was found to have defects, which could not repaired after 3 repair attempts within the first 18,000 miles or two years of operation, whichever comes first.

The changes to the new law now expand the coverage to 24,000 miles, instead of 18,000. In addition to the expansion of the mileage, the law also creates a distinction between the types of defects covered under the New Jersey Lemon Law.

Consumers who purchase a vehicle that has a serious defect, one that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, are now able to declare the vehicle a lemon if the problem cannot be cured after a single repair attempt.

All other types of defects will continue to constitute a lemon car only after three or more failed repair attempts.

Allowing a consumer to prove a defective car a lemon after one repair attempt is very important, especially when the defect is likely to cause a serious injury. If a dealer is not able to repair a car due to a defect that is likely to cause an injury, the car should be taken off the road to protect both the owner and other drivers.