Fortunately, the Lemon Law will provide protection if you find yourself with an RV that has a defect. Each state has its own lemon law, and there is also the federal lemon law, the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, which protects consumers from defective products.
If you have an RV that has been determined to be a ‘lemon,’ the lemon law entitles you to either a full refund or a vehicle of equal value from the manufacturer. Sometimes a dealer or manufacturer will attempt to take measures to avoid compensation, but the lemon laws will ensure that the manufacturer delivers the product as promised. If not, you can file for breach of warranty.
Because each state lemon law varies, it is important to check with your state’s lemon laws statutes for their statute summary. Generally speaking, an RV must meet specific criteria to be deemed a lemon. For instance, there must have been a specific number of repair attempts within the manufacturers warranty period. The RV owner must have provided a written notice by certified mail to the manufacturer and/or dealer explaining the problem and that it has been unable to be corrected. They must also include a request for a full refund or replacement within a specified time period. The manufacturer will have a certain number of days for a final repair attempt once they have received the letter. Depending on your state’s statutes, there will be certain criteria such as vehicle portions only, and no more than a certain weight such as 10,000 lbs.
Keeping good records is essential to getting compensation for a defective RV. The documents should include: copy of the current registration of the RV, copy of the purchase agreement, copies of every Repair Order, copies of all rental car/RV receipts, towing receipts, and copies of hotel receipts because the defect prevented you from staying in the RV. You should also keep a list of all your maintenance history and the names of the people who you discussed the problem with at the dealer and manufacturer.
It is very beneficial to consult with an experienced lemon law attorney about your case. An attorney can assist you with gathering all of the appropriate documents and filing a claim. As well, they can represent you during arbitration, or if the case goes to court. An attorney will fight to protect your rights and get the compensation that you deserve. For most of us, getting an RV involves substantial saving as well as acquiring financing, so it is good to know that if you get a defective RV, you have a way to get compensation, either through a refund, or getting a replacement RV of equal value.
