For some automobile owners dealing with a defective vehicle, understanding the difference in a lemon and a car that has been recalled can be difficult. The following are some things you need to know when it comes to understanding these two different terms:

What Is a Recall?

A recall is an initiative by an automobile manufacturer to remedy a problem discovered in a certain make or model vehicle. The manufacturer will sometimes issue recalls voluntarily if they find a defect that could cause problems for the vehicle. Other times, the recalls are required by law.

A recall generally requires the owner of the vehicle to take it into the dealership to have the problem fixed at no charge to the owner. Sometimes, however, the recall will consist of making drastic changes to the vehicle.

As a car owner, you will be notified by mail if a recall has been issued for your vehicle. All authorized dealerships should also check for any potential recalls when you take your car in for routine service. Whether or not the recall is urgent depends on the level of safety involved with the repair.

What Is a Lemon?

A lemon vehicle is one that ends up having a variety of manufacturing issues that can have dangerous impacts on safety and value. These vehicles are then referred to as lemons and are considered to have too many flaws to do their intended purpose.

The Lemon Law is a federal law that protects consumers from shady warranty practices. The goal of the law is to ensure warranties are easy to understand and enforce. It does not require that a manufacturer provide a warranty, but if a manufacturer chooses to, they need to be very transparent about what the warranty does and does not cover.

Is a Recall Used to Repair a Lemon?

A lemon, or a vehicle with continual issues, will typically be qualified for a replacement or repurchase by the dealership if the number of attempts to repair the issue is unreasonable, particularly if it is covered by a warranty.

It can be complicated to determine if a recall can repair a lemon vehicle. Most times, it will highly depend on the case at hand. Some manufacturers have argued that they issue recalls in a proactive manner to show their responsibility.

If you think your dealership is giving you the run-around regarding any fixes your vehicle needs, you need to contact an attorney to help you get your car dealt with as soon as possible. To learn more about the Lemon Law and how it might affect you, contact a law firm like the San Jose Lemon Law Center.

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