Important Texas Lemon Law Deadlines

Texas car customers can seek relief from a defective warrantied vehicle through two separate laws: the Texas state lemon law, and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

Both state lemon law and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act help protect consumers who unknowingly purchase defective vehicles, known as “lemons,” and compensate them for their losses. There are certain limitations, however, to whom the laws can help and when. Knowing which law to use when seeking relief can help your case resolve efficiently and fairly.

Consumers in Texas must file a state lemon law complaint within either six months of the vehicle’s warranty expiring, or 24 months following the vehicle’s delivery or 24,000 operation miles following the vehicle’s delivery – whichever of these events occurs first.

For example, if a Texas vehicle has a 36 month warranty, then the Texas consumer must file any state lemon law complaint no later than 42 months from the date the warranty became active. However, if the consumer drives the vehicle 20,000 in the first year after the vehicle’s delivery, the consumer would need to file the Texas state lemon law complaint before the car traveled another 4,000 miles, even if that occurs before the expiration of the 42 months mentioned above. Importantly, a Texas consumer should seek the assistance of a lemon law attorney to determine the time remaining, if any, to file a Texas state lemon law claim, and whether it makes good sense to do so in light of the underlying circumstances.

Those filing a complaint using the state’s lemon law must undergo arbitration before the law’s repurchase or replacement provisions are applicable. While arbitration can be faster and less formal than a filed civil lawsuit, it has a number of downsides and rarely resolves favorably for the consumer.

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The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1974 borrows the statute of limitations from the state in which the breach of warranty occurs. In the state of Texas, breach of warranty claims follow the Uniform Commercial Code’s four-year statute of limitations. Therefore, the statute of limitations for federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act claims in Texas is four years.

Because Magnuson-Moss is a federal law, it supersedes any state law and can be pursued even if the state lemon law’s technical requirements are not met. Furthermore, the Act provides the vehicle manufacturer shall pay the claimant’s attorneys’ fees if the claimant prevails against the manufacturer. Lemon law attorneys exist that will only collect attorneys’ fees if they succeed in obtaining a financial recovery for their clients.

Hiring a lawyer to assist in your lemon law case is a prudent decision. Lawyers act as both their client’s guide and advocate within the legal system. The law contains innumerable technicalities and pitfalls that may seem minor to a layperson, but can seriously and adversely affect a lemon law case if ignored. Courts do not go lightly on those who do not understand or follow standard legal rules and procedures.

If you bought a lemon car and cannot get any help from the manufacturer, don’t hesitate to reach out to a qualified lemon law attorney. They have the experience and expertise needed to get you the justice you deserve.