The Magnuson Moss Warranty Act: A hidden gem most consumers do not know about
Certainly, we have all heard of the lemon law at one time or another. Every State has one and they are designed to protect car owners when their ride turns sour. But, what if you fall outside the lemon law provisions? Perhaps, you live in Pennsylvania, and your problem occurred at 13,000 miles, rather than 12,000? Or you have a used car with a manufacturers warranty and the check engine light just will not go off? Is the manufacturer off the hook? Is the consumer out of luck? The answer is no.
There’s a little known Federal law called the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, that’s not discussed by car dealerships when you purchase your car. It’s a statute that is not heavily promoted or publicized but it applies to cars, or any products that cost over $25 and are covered by a manufacturers warranty. What is says is that if you find that you have to get your car repaired three or more times for the same thing, it means that the warranty has not proven to efficient or very effective.
And for that reason, you could be entitled to monies that reflect the diminished value of the car as a result of the problem. So, that darn window motor that’s been replaced, the air conditioner that hasn’t been blowing cool air, the water leak in the trunk that was finally fixed after four tries, or that nav system that’s gone through quite a few upgrades could mean thousands in your pocket PLUS**You get to keep your car**Your warranty remains completely in effect and they still have to fix your car. **Your car is not branded in any way (like the lemon law)**You do not disclose that you received this money when selling or trading your car. **Like the Lemon Law, the Magnuson Moss provides a provision which entitles consumers to completely free legal help, so they are on equal footing with the manufacturers. And unlike the lemon law, this law can apply to used cars.
You read this right–This is free money and it applies to any car or truck which is still under an original or extended manufacturers warranty. If you think you may be entitled to money under the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, click here and we will be glad to contact you to further discuss your claim.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:24 am
[...] repeatedly discuss the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, which provides distressed drivers with monetary damages if their car, truck or motorcycle has been [...]
March 1st, 2010 at 9:11 am
I have a 5th wheel rv that I purchased new in June 2009. I have had multiple problems with this rv and have it it in the repair shop multilpe times for repairs. New proplems continue to pop up. I pucrchased this rv in NY and I understand there is no lemon law on non motorized problems such heat,ac and plumbling. Can I return this RV for a new one or get money refunded?
March 23rd, 2010 at 3:21 am
We have an 08′ Silverado, and at 16000 miles the accelerator pedal gave out and an “engine power reduced” light came on. The car would gimp around at no more than about 5-10 mph until it was serviced.
It’s in the shop for the 7th time at less than 40xxx miles, and we just don’t know what to do. We’re in contact with the BBB, but GM has flat out told us they will not work with us, despite failing to remedy the problem repeatedly. The 4th occurrence was 2000 miles outside of lemon law, so according to them we have no legal recourse at this point but to trade it in or buy a new one (And go through this again? Fat chance!)
We’ve lost all faith in this vehicle. We used to enjoy frequent camping and rock-climbing trips, but have had to completely abandon our activities for fear the truck will leave us stranded in a dangerous situation. It’s had this issue several times on the freeway, and I can’t help but think it’s a ticking time bomb.
Even though it’s outside of Arizona Lemon Law, could this act possibly get GM to buy it back? I’m scared to death of this vehicle. Buying our first new car shouldn’t have been like this… What can I do?
March 23rd, 2010 at 3:24 am
We have an 08′ Silverado, and at 16000 miles the accelerator pedal gave out and an “engine power reduced” light came on. The car would gimp around at no more than about 5-10 mph until it was serviced.
It’s in the shop for the 7th time at less than 40xxx miles, and we just don’t know what to do. We’re in contact with the BBB, but GM has flat out told us they will not work with us, despite failing to remedy the problem repeatedly. The 4th occurrence was 2000 miles outside of lemon law, so according to them we have no legal recourse at this point but to trade it in or buy a new one (And go through this again? Fat chance!)
We’ve lost all faith in this vehicle. We used to enjoy frequent camping and rock-climbing trips, but have had to completely abandon our activities for fear the truck will leave us stranded in a dangerous situation. It’s had this issue several times on the freeway, and I can’t help but think it’s a ticking time bomb.
Even though it’s outside of Arizona Lemon Law, could this act possibly get GM to buy it back? I’m scared to death of this vehicle. Buying our first new car shouldn’t have been like this… What can I do?
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:24 am
[...] burden of proof. If it were a big warranty claim getting denied, I would get a lawyer.. See link: The Magnuson Moss Warranty Act: A hidden gem most consumers do not know about | Lemon Law Blog __________________ 2010 2.0T GT Genesis Coupe |G&M SRI|MAP Heatshield|PTP Turbo Blanket| [...]
December 7th, 2011 at 11:06 am
I am wondering about whether I’m covered….
-I bought a 2005 Volvo SUV with 98,000 miles from a used car dealership in VA (5 hours from my home in NC–not volvo dealer) in May.I put $4,000 down and financed the rest through a finance company owned by the dealership’s owenr.I was given a 50/50 parts and labor warranty for 1 year.
- I spent such a long time choosing the “sensible” vehicle that would give me the size that I needed for work, had a reputation of a vehicle that would last, but was in my budget($14,500.) -Three days of driving and the transmission gave out.
-The dealership picked up the vehicle and had it towed back to VA.
-After two corporate Volvo dealerships said the transmission had to be replaced, the dealership said they could not find anything wrong with the car at all. Their customer service associate differed on her acceptance of issue with vehicle and their offers to fix/trade for a different vehicle every time I called. They refused to refund my downpayment, refused to fix vehicle as a “comsumer” issue rather than warranty issue due to the immediacy of the problem. Finally, after 5 1/2 months, we came to an agreement that we would each pay 50% of putting a used transmission into the vehicle. I wasn’t happy with this but agreed b/c they would agree to nothing else and I had been without a vehicle for 6 months which was hindering my income and everything in my life.
-Finally, on November 10th, I travelled back to pick the car up, made the third payment on the vehicle, paid my portion of the repair bill, and drove back to NC.
-On November 24th the car sounded kind of funny as I was pulling up to my in-laws’ home three hours away. I was worried but wasn’t going to be driving it for a few days and daughter and I were both sick so left it alone and figured I would see how it sounded on the 27th when we were due to drive home and thought I may have to take it to the Volvo dealership.
-11/27 drove the vehicle two miles and the engine made a loud noise and turned off completely on the highway. I was able to pull over and called AAA. They towed car to Cary Volvo where the service people determined that the engine was “unrepairable” due to a “catastrophic internal event” and gave me the estimate of $18,000. if I did want to repair the vehicle. They told me that there is one used compatible engine in the country and if I did go that route the part alone was $6,000. so I was probably looking in the neighborhood of $10,000. to fix with unwarranted used engine.
-12/6 the selling dealership picked up the vehicle from Volvo of Cary, NC and had it towed back to VA to inspect for themselves.
—-Including downpayment, payments, and repairs, I have spent $7540.06 to date on this vehicle(cash out of pocket) and am still obligated to the lein of approx $10,000.. The vehicle is not drivable and I have only had use of it for 17 days in total since the May 18th date of purchase.
Not only can I not afford to have spent this money, but the loss of the use of it has affected my self-produced income greatly and caused a lot of distress to myself and my family.
I am still without a vehicle, without cash, and looking at having to come out of pocket close to/approx $5,000. if the dealership decides they want to honor the 50/50 warranty and fix it. I don’t have the money to do that.
I even offered to them that I would just be “out” the transmission repair $ and all of the travel and diagnostic $ if they would simply attribute my downpayment of $4,000. to another one of their vehicles. They said I would have to “meet in the midddle” somewhere and that there was no way they’d do that. That WAS my idea of meeting in the middle—-what I want is my $ back and to walk away from this nightmare with less $ but the ability to move on and buy another car and live/work the way I need.
This just does not seem right….there has to be some kind of recourse?!?!?! (sorry for the book!!)
December 12th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Sadly, in order for us to help, you MUST have a manufacturers warranty.
February 9th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
I own a 2009 Toyota Corolla, have had the vehicle for a year and a half and have had to replace the water pump, alternator and battery with in the last five months, called Toyota to ask if i was covered under my warranty and i was told no, so i had to go get car fixed on my own and now my car is sitting in the drive way cause after we installed new battery car will not go into gear and Toyota just replied bring it in and we can fix it at my expense, car wont move to get it there. i do have a warranty and they said i am not covered for the three parts i had to replace, I thought Toyota’s ran forever????? My god it’s a 2009 they sold me a lemon
March 1st, 2012 at 10:43 pm
We right now are leasing a 2008 mazda 3 and when we got it in aug of 2011 it is used and only had 31,000 miles on it and still under factory warrenty with bumper to bumper and drive trainee warrenty. About 3 weeks after we got it the engine light came on and the dealer where we got it couldnt find the problem so they just cleared the codes and returned the vehicle. Two weeks after that the engine light had come on again mind you both times the vehicle had to be towed. This time they sent it to a mazda dealer and found it to be an O2 sensor. It was fixed at this point. Now today on March 1st 2012 it stalled on me as I was driving it got it to start back up got to a gas station turned the vehicle off came out and went to start it and I had nothing. The vehicle would not start or crank over. I had no power in anything except the radio, cigarette lighter and the heater, the rest of the vehicle had nothing. Had it towed to the dealership where I got it and they told me that it is something electrical. Am I entitled to anything being that it is still under factory warrenty for the drive trainee?
March 6th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
If your repair invoices illustrate three repair visits for the same problem, you may have a claim. Please visit http://www.lemonlaw.com for more information.
June 28th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
I bought a 2009 Saturn outlook new on oct 9, 2008. During the summer of 2010, I took the car into the dealership b/c the AC wasn’t working. They “fixed it”. However, the next summer of 2011, I took it in TWICE for the same problem. After the 2nd time in 2011, I was concerned that the problem really wasn’t fixed & My warranty was due to end in Nov 2011. The dealership ensured me that if I had trouble again, they would cover it, even outside of the warranty time. Sure enough, I have had my car in THREE times already this summer. I thought the issue was finally resolved, but 3 weeks later, AC isn’t working again. I’ve now taken the car a total of 6 times without a remedy. Do I have a claim under the Magnuson moss act?
July 2nd, 2012 at 3:49 pm
You may have a claim. Call us at 1 800 LEMON LAW to discuss your situation.