A new car that has significant defects (or "nonconformity") such as to make it either inoperable or with a diminished value is referred to as a lemon. State " lemon laws," therefore, are meant to protect consumers from being stuck with a new vehicle that doesn't live up to its warranty. Under state laws, the dealer and/or manufacturer must either replace or refund a new vehicle if they are unable to fix one or more serious nonconformities within a certain time limit (usually one year) or a specified number of miles.
Oklahoma Lemon Law Basics
As in most states, the dealer/manufacturer must be given a "reasonable number of attempts" to fix the problem, which is at least four under Oklahoma law. Additionally, a vehicle that is out of service due to repairs for at least 30 business days may be considered a lemon as well. The state's lemon law may be invoked within the warranty period or one year, whichever comes sooner.
If your vehicle meets the criteria under Oklahoma's lemon law, you first must attempt informal dispute resolution with the manufacturer. If that fails, then you should contact a lemon law attorney for legal assistance. Even if you qualify for a refund or replacement, you may still be charged for the mileage driven (based on the projected life of the vehicle).
Additional details of Oklahoma's lemon law are listed below. See FindLaw's Lemon Law section for additional articles.
| Code Section | 15 §901 |
| Title of Act | Not specified |
| Definition of Defects | Nonconformity to any applicable express warranties which significantly affects the use or market value of vehicle |
| Time Limit for Manufacturer Repair | Term of express warranties or during 1 year following date of original delivery to consumer, whichever is earlier |
| Remedies | Replace with new vehicle or accept return and refund full purchase price including all taxes, license, registration fees, and all similar governmental fees, excluding interest, less a reasonable allowance for consumer's use |
Note: State laws may change at any time, usually through the enactment of new legislation but sometimes through higher court decisions or other means. You may want to contact an Oklahoma consumer protection attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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Oklahoma Lemon Law: Related Resources
