Iowa Lemon Law
There are some instances when new car buyers need to use the lemon law in Iowa after realizing a nonconformity in their vehicle that cannot be fixed.
When a dealership or manufacturer sells a bad car, lemon law guidelines should be followed for drivers to resolve the issue and hopefully teach them how to handle similar situations.
The federal lemon law sets elementary rules for car owners who accidentally buy lemon cars so they can return the defective vehicle when the defect was not caused by driver.
Some drivers also hire a attorney to help them follow the regulations of these laws so they do not face errors that risk losing the chance for monetary payback or similar solution. Learn all about this law in the sections provided below.
What is the Lemon Law in Iowa?
The lemon law in Iowa says that a new car that has a nonconformity that cannot be repaired is thought of as a lemon.
The particulars of these laws may range on a state-to-state basis, but, according to the lemon law definition, vehicles that are covered by this law in Iowa must exhibit the subsequent conditions:
- New vehicles that are under two years old.
- New vehicles that have less than 24,000 miles.
- New vehicles that weigh less than 15,000 pounds.
The Iowa Attorney General enforces lemon laws in Iowa, which includes new purchased and new leased vehicles as well as nonconformities with the communicated warranty of the car from the manufacturer.
Does the Iowa Lemon Law apply to used cars?
Used car lemon law is not an option for used car drivers in the state of Iowa. Residents should instead find used car laws to follow if their vehicle does not meet all of the listed requirements.
How does the Lemon Law work in Iowa?
Iowa residents’ new vehicles are considered lemons if, under the Iowa lemon laws, vehicles meet the following qualifications:
- The vehicle reveals a significant deficiency. The defect needs to be extreme and must affect the vehicle’s operation ability, safety or value.
- A mechanic attempted at least three repairs on the car to fix a nonconformity problem OR a mechanic attempted at least one repair on a defect that threatens serious injury or death.
- The car was in the mechanic’s shop and out of service for at least 20 days.
To resolve the problem, drivers should start by contacting the vehicle manufacturer with a written lemon law notice that:
- Explains the problems with the car.
- Shows copies of the work orders and invoices.
- Includes a request for a new vehicle, a refund or another solution.
If these lemon law conditions stand true, drivers should send a notice to the car manufacturer by registered, overnight or certified mail with a return receipt request.
Doing this allows the manufacturer one last chance to try and fix or, at least, inspect the vehicle before using the lemon law to move forward. Drivers should state to the manufacturer in the notice that they expect a response within ten days of delivery. I
f the manufacturers do not respond within that time cannot fix the problem, Iowa drivers can use this law to submit a Motor Vehicle Defect Notification Form to the manufacturer requesting to be granted one of two lemon law buyback options from the manufacturer:
- The manufacturer must provide a replacement vehicle for you or;
- The manufacturer must give you a refund.
Iowa residents can go through Attorney General to carry out the lemon law process and get any compensation they are owed. If a manufacturer does not want to comply, drivers can hire a lemon law attorney to strongly defend their case.
Sometimes, manufacturers may not be openly willing to admit that a car is a lemon, so drivers should recognize their rights under this law in Iowa or get assistance in doing so to ensure they are not left with no means for resolution.
To prove they are eligible to use the federal lemon law, it is important for drivers to keep record copies and any documentation stating their vehicle’s repair service history and showing its defective status, the date of repair, the odometer reading and any work performed.
Additionally, drivers should keep archives of communication between themselves and the car dealer or manufacture, which will come in handy if they need to file a lawsuit.
Iowa Lemon Law Lawyers
Hiring a lemon law attorney if you do not know how to request that your vehicle be listed as a lemon or how to get reimbursement is extremely useful.
Attorneys for lemon law warranty disputes are often know everything about the process and understand what paths you should take to form a strong and reasonable case.
Before you start working with a lawyer, look over these helpful tips to give you some insight on the searching process:
- Conduct good research: It is important that you meet with numerous lemon law lawyers before choosing one to represent you. The first lawyer you speak to might not always be the best option for your particular situation.
- Make sure the attorney has past experience: Find a lawyer with lemon law case experience in their past. Question lawyers you meet with about their previous cases and success rates.
- Find a local lawyer: Make sure the attorney you hire understands this law since the laws are different throughout the United States.
- Compare fees and terms of payment: Before hiring a lawyer to defend your case, verify the cost of their services. Making sure you can afford the cost of a lemon law attorney and that you are not surprised by any hidden terms or fees later is significant.
Drivers who are not fully informed about the Iowa lemon law can benefit greatly from the services these lawyers provide. Lemon law attorneys are typically good investments for drivers in these touch situations, especially when manufacturers are not open to an easy resolution.
While some drivers simply do not want to handle the communication between themselves and the dealership, lawyers can also help with your car lemon law case by:
- Detailing your rights and options to you.
- Making sure the manufacturer obeys the law in Iowa.
- Making sure you receive everything to which you are accredited.
- Handling all parts of the case from the start to the finish.
- Dealing with all of the paperwork for you.
Additional New and Used Car Laws in Iowa
If an Iowa resident purchases a used car that is not suitable for the IA lemon law, they can instead turn to the Consumer Rights Act through the Attorney General if the vehicle has a major undisclosed defect at the time of sale.
This law is comparable to a used car lemon law because it allows drivers to file a claim if the dealer from whom they purchased the vehicle gave them false or misleading information and the car demonstrates a major operational issue that threatens safety, value or function.
How to Tell if Your New Car Is a Lemon
If you are trying to figure out if your vehicle qualifies for the Iowa lemon law, look over the standards below to verify if all of they are met.
- Your car or truck has an all-encompassing nonconformity that appeared within two years of purchase in new condition.
- Your car or truck has less than 24,000 on it.
- Your car’s or truck’s nonconformity is covered by a warranty.
- Your car’s or truck’s nonconformity cannot be fixed after you tried getting it fixed at least three times OR one time, depending on the type of deficiency.
Iowa drivers with cars that meet the new car lemon law can get a lemon law buyback from their manufacturer or a full refund. However, knowing which cars are likely to experience these issues is a great way to prevent drivers from having to go through this process.
The top five 2018 car makes and models with the highest amount of nonconformity complaints are provided below.
- Mercedes-Benz B
- Chevrolet Volt
- Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
- Chrysler Pacifica
- Tesla Model S