Lemon Law Basics: Oregon Lemon Laws
Summary of Oregon Lemon Law
What vehicles are covered under Oregon lemon law?
Oregon lemon law covers all new and used vehicles purchased in Oregon.
Leased vehicles are also covered.
What protections do I have under Oregon lemon law?
Oregon lemon law states that if a consumer reports the existence of a
serious defect which falls under a vehicle's warranty to the manufacturer
within the first year or first 12,000 miles, the manufacturer must repair
the nonconformity. A nonconformity is considered serious if it negatively
impacts the vehicle's use, safety, or value. The manufacturer is not liable
for nonconformities caused by unauthorized modification or abuse by the
consumer.
If the manufacturer is unable to repair the nonconformity within a reasonable
number of tries, the vehicle must be repurchased or replaced.
What must occur before seeking settlement under the Oregon lemon law?
According to Oregon lemon law, the manufacturer is presumed to have had
a reasonable chance to repair the nonconformity after four attempts to
repair the same conformity or a cumulative total of 30 business days during
which the vehicle was out of commission for repairs. For this presumption
to apply, the manufacturer must receive notice of the nonconformity in
writing.
Filing a claim under Oregon lemon law
If the manufacturer notifies the consumer of an informal settlement process,
the consumer must attempt to resolve the problem using that process before
filing an Oregon lemon law claim with the judicial system. Claims must
be filed before the vehicle reaches 12,000 miles or before the end of
the first year of ownership, whichever comes first.
What are the settlement details under Oregon lemon law?
If a vehicle is repurchased under Oregon lemon law, the manufacturer must
pay a sum that includes the full lease or purchase price plus any state
charges such as tax, tags, and registration. A reasonable offset for the
consumer's use of the vehicle can be subtracted from this amount.
If a vehicle is replaced under Oregon lemon law, the replacement vehicle
must be new, and no usage offset may be levied.
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