Kansas Lemon Law
Residents in Kansas who purchase new cars sometimes need to use the lemon law after realizing their vehicles have a defective quality.
If drivers purchase a new vehicle from a manufacturer and it is a defective car, lemon law guidelines are put in place to offer solutions to drivers who did not cause the faults with their new vehicles and need some sort of compensation from the dealership.
The United States’ federal lemon law offers general guidelines for drivers and manufacturers to follow when circumstances such as these occur.
Drivers also have the option to hire an attorney to help them understand and follow these guidelines to ensure they have the best chance to get their return payment. Find out more information about this law by reading the useful segments offered below.
What is the Lemon Law in Kansas?
The lemon law in Kansas classifies lemon cars as vehicles with nonconformity issues that cannot be repaired after many attempts.
Different states enforce varying versions of these laws, but these laws require that the vehicle be in new condition or that it be a demonstrator vehicle in order for it to meet the lemon law definition. Under the laws, vehicles should also be under 12,000 pounds.
The Kansas Attorney General enforces lemon laws in Kansas which protect all new vehicles, whether cars or trucks, and all new leased vehicles. These laws also embrace eccentricities with the connected warranty of the vehicle that endanger its safety, value or use.
Motorcycles, motor homes and recreational vehicles are not eligible as lemons in Kansas.
Does the Kansas Lemon Law apply to used cars?
Used car lemon law is not an option in Kansas, and no 30 day lemon law used cars guidelines are set up for drivers to follow. Residents must refer to used car laws that are not listed within the lemon guidelines.
How does the Lemon Law work in Kansas?
Drivers who believe their car is eligible the protections under this law must prove that their vehicle demonstrates the qualities that follow:
- They must have purchased the car in new condition within one year.
- The vehicle must demonstrate a significant deficiency. These defects must be dangerous and should influence the operation ability of the car, such as the engine, brakes, transmission or other key parts of the car.
- A car mechanic must have attempted at least four repairs on the vehicle to resolve the issue OR at least ten repair attempts on multiple different problems OR
- The car must have been in the mechanic’s shop and out of use for at least 30 days total.
Kansas residents’ vehicles are considered lemons if they present a defect that does not meet the warranty from the manufacturer. Drivers do not need to immediately look to the law for a solution if their cars demonstrate conditions of a lemon vehicle.
To start the process of resolving the problem, drivers should first reach out to the vehicle manufacturer with a written complaint letter that shows them:
- What is wrong with the car.
- Copies of the work orders and invoices.
- A request for a lemon law buyback, a full reimbursement or another option.
If the lemon law conditions are met, drivers need to send the complaint through registered or express mail to the manufacturer, including a request for a return receipt. This allows the manufacturer one more opportunity to fix the vehicle or inspect it for defects.
If the manufacturer does not reply or attempt a final repair, after a reasonable amount of time, Kansas drivers should continue with the with legal proceedings for settlement. If the manufacturer will not provide any assistance, Kansas drivers should also consider hiring a lemon law attorney to defend their case and get their return.
The manufacturer has to offer one of two lemon law buyback options if a driver’s car is a lemon:
- They must provide a replacement vehicle for you or;
- They must buy the vehicle back from you.
Drivers usually do not need to rely on the Attorney General to enforce the lemon law and work out issues with dealer, since dealerships are required to protect customers under their specified regulations.
Still, some manufacturers are less willing to cooperate, so it is important that drivers know their rights under the Kansas lemon law so they know what they can do next in any situation.
Kansas residents can contact the Kansas Attorney General to begin the lemon law process and get their expected compensation. As proof of eligibility for protections under this law, drivers should keep copies of records and documentation of their car’s mechanic service history that shows its flawed status.
Moreover, it is also good for drivers to keep copies of correspondence records between themselves and the car manufacturer or dealer, which will be useful for any possible lawsuits.
Kansas Lemon Law Lawyers
It is always a good idea to hire a lemon law attorney if you do not know how to go about requesting that your defective vehicle be classified as a lemon and get your necessary compensation from the manufacturer.
Lawyers for lemon law warranty issues are very knowledgeable in the field and will know what the best steps are for you to take and how to create a strong and valid argument for your case.
Before you begin working with an attorney, refer to the following tips to ensure you get the best service for your case:
- Conduct good research: It is important that drivers meet with many different lemon law lawyers before picking one to represent their case. If they select the first one they meet, they may not get the best return for their investment.
- Make sure the attorney has past experience: Find a lawyer with past lemon law cases and a good success rate in those cases.
- Find a local lawyer: Hire an attorney who thoroughly understands the Kansas lemon law since these laws tend to vary from state to state.
- Compare fees and terms of payment: Before hiring a lawyer to defend your case, ask how much they want you to pay for their services. It is important that you can afford the cost of a lemon law attorney and that you are not surprised by any hidden terms or fees later.
Drivers who do not fully understand the KS lemon law regularly discover the many great reasons to hire an attorney for representation.
Lemon law attorneys are usually a great investment for drivers who need the assistance and can afford them, especially when manufacturers make it difficult to come to a resolution.
Along with car owners who do not want to worry about the legal process or deal with car dealerships, attorneys can help drivers through the car lemon law process by:
- Detailing their rights and options to them.
- Ensuring that the manufacturer obeys the law in Kansas.
- Making sure they get everything to which they are authorized.
- Handling the whole case from the beginning to the end.
- Dealing with all of the paperwork for them.
How to Tell if Your New Car Is a Lemon
If you cannot tell if your car qualifies for the Kansas lemon law, review the standards listed below to see if your car meets all of them:
- Your vehicle has an extensive nonconformity that appeared within one year after you purchased it.
- Your vehicle’s nonconformity is covered by a warranty.
- Your vehicle’s nonconformity cannot be repaired, even after you tried getting it fixed at least four or ten times, depending on the problems.
Kansas residents whose cars are eligible for the new car lemon law should continue to the next part of the lemon law buyback procedure. New car buyers should keep in mind the 2018 car makes and models with the most lemon law complaint, which include:
- Mercedes-Benz B
- Chevrolet Volt
- Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
- Chrysler Pacifica
- Tesla Model S