Working along side federal laws, New Hampshire state lemon laws are in
place to help consumers achieve compensation for motor vehicles and
trucks that have major defects. Motorcycles, boats, recreational
vehicles, consumer appliances, and computers also qualify for lemon
compensation.
In order to be eligible for lemon compensation in the state of New
Hampshire a motor vehicle, which are the most common class of lemons,
must still be under the manufacturer's express warranty. The motor
vehicle must also have suffered several attempted repairs for the same
defect. The defect is required to inhibit the market value of the motor
vehicle or inhibit the safety of the motor vehicle's passengers.
Normal lemon defects include seatbelt issues and break issues. When a
motor vehicle is deemed a lemon the consumer will either be refunded
his or her purchase amount or have the motor vehicle replaced without
cost.
A motor vehicle will also be eligible for lemon compensation if the
vehicle has been out of service and in a repair facility for a total of
thirty days. These thirty days are not required to be consecutive and
can be added up throughout the express warranty's time period. In this
case the reasonable number of repair attempts are not necessary for the
motor vehicle to be deemed a lemon.
Intent
The New Hampshire legislature declares that all importers,
manufacturers, and distributors are bound by law to uphold lemon laws
and are required to resolve the problem in a fast and costly efficient
manner. When the manufacturer is to refund or replace the motor
vehicle, the manufacturer must do so as conformed through the express
warranty. The dealers of both new and used motor vehicle cannot be sued
for providing lemon vehicles.
Warranties
Warranties will dictate how long a consumer has to report the lemon
defect. If the lemon defect has received attempted repair three or more
times while under express warranty and the consumer reports the motor
vehicle as a lemon prior to the expiration of the express warranty, the
motor vehicle may still receive manufacturer repair or replacement even
if the express warranty has expired. The only instance where an express
warranty's effectiveness will be terminated prior to the one-year mark
is when the motor vehicle's mileage exceeds eighteen thousand miles.
While the vehicle is under express warranty the manufacturer, dealer,
or agent is required to attempt a repair. This repair must conform the
motor vehicle to the manufacturer's standard, otherwise the motor
vehicle will require replacement or refund. If the motor vehicle cannot
be repaired to the manufacturer's standard within thirty calendar days
the consumer will also be eligible for compensation.
Refund
When a motor vehicle is refunded the purchasing price will be refunded
along with licensing fees, repair fees, registration fees, government
fees, and all other expenses. If the motor vehicle has received abuse
or neglect, that is outside of the lemon defect, the manufacturer is
not required to compensate for the abuse. This is also the case with
cosmetic alterations, such as paint and radio additions.