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New
Hampshire Lemon Law Statutes
Title 31 - Chapter 357D
§ 357-D:1 Intent.
The legislature finds and
declares that manufacturers, distributors and importers of new
motor vehicles should be obligated to provide speedy and less
costly resolution of automobile warranty problems. Manufacturers
should be required to provide in as expeditious a manner as possible
a refund of the consumer's purchase price, payments to a lessor
and lessee, or a replacement vehicle that is acceptable to the
consumer whenever the manufacturer is unable to make the vehicle
conform with its applicable warranty. New motor vehicle dealers
and used motor vehicle dealers cannot be sued under this chapter.
Source.1991, 222:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
§ 357-D:2 Definitions. - In
this chapter:
- "Board" means the New Hampshire
new motor vehicle arbitration board.
- "Business day" means any day
during which the service departments of authorized dealers of
the manufacturer of the motor vehicle are normally open for business.
- "Consumer" means the purchaser,
other than for purposes of resale of a new motor vehicle; the
lessee of a new motor vehicle, other than for the purpose of
sublease; any person to whom such motor vehicle is transferred
during the duration of an express warranty applicable to the
motor vehicle; or any other person entitled by the terms of the
warranty to enforce the obligations of the warranty. "Consumer" shall
not include any governmental entity.
- "Distributor" means any person
who sells or distributes new or used motor vehicles to motor
vehicle dealers or who maintains distributor representatives
within this state.
- "Early termination costs" means
expenses and obligations incurred by a motor vehicle lessee as
a result of an early termination of a written lease agreement
and surrender of a motor vehicle to a manufacturer, including
penalties for prepayment of finance arrangements.
- "Factory branch" means any branch
office maintained by a manufacturer for the purpose of selling,
leasing, or offering for sale or lease, vehicles to a distributor
or new motor vehicle dealer or for directing or supervising,
in whole or in part, factory distributor representatives.
- "Lease" or "leased" means
a written agreement with a lessee which shall be for the use
of a motor vehicle for consideration for a term of 2 or more
years.
- "Lessee" means any consumer
who leases a motor vehicle pursuant to a written lease agreement
for a term of 2 or more years.
- "Manufacturer" means any person,
resident or nonresident, who manufactures or assembles new motor
vehicles, or imports for distribution through distributors of
motor vehicles or any partnership, firm, association, joint venture,
corporation or trust, resident or nonresident, which is controlled
by a manufacturer. The term "manufacturer" includes
distributors and factory branches.
- "Motor vehicle" means:
- A motor vehicle, as defined in RSA 259:60,
of the private passenger or station wagon type with a gross weight
not exceeding 9,000 pounds that is purchased or leased by a consumer;
or
- Any other 4-wheel motor vehicle with a
gross weight not exceeding 9,000 pounds, except tractors, off
highway recreational vehicles, and mopeds; or
- Motorcycles.
- "Motor vehicle dealer" means
any person engaged in the business of selling, offering to sell,
leasing, soliciting or advertising the sale of new or used motor
vehicles or possessing motor vehicles for the purpose of resale
either on his own account or on behalf of another, either as
his primary business or incidental thereto. However, "motor
vehicle dealer" shall not include:
- Receivers, trustees, administrators, executors,
guardians, or other persons appointed by or acting under judgment,
decree or order of any court; or
- Public officers while performing their
duties as such officers.
- "Motor vehicle lessor" means
a person who holds title to a motor vehicle leased to a lessee
under written lease agreement for a term of 2 or more years,
or who holds the lessor's rights under such an agreement.
- "New motor vehicle" means
a passenger motor vehicle which is still under the manufacturer's
express warranty.
- "Nonconformity" means a defect
or condition that substantially impairs the use, value or safety
of a motor vehicle, but does not include a defect or condition
that results from an accident, abuse, neglect, modification,
or alteration of the motor vehicle by persons other than the
manufacturer or its authorized service agent.
- "Warranty" includes express
warranties as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code, RSA 382-A,
plus any written warranty of the manufacturer.
Source.1991, 222:1. 1994, 220:1, 2,
eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
§ 357-D:3Enforcement of Warranties.
- Every new motor vehicle sold in this state shall conform
to all applicable warranties.
- It shall be the manufacturer's obligation
under this chapter to insure that all new motor vehicles sold
or leased in this state conform with the manufacturer's express
warranties. The manufacturer may delegate responsibility to its
agents or authorized dealers provided, however, in the event
the manufacturer delegates its responsibility under this chapter
to its agents or authorized dealers, it shall compensate the
dealer for all work performed by the dealer in satisfaction of
the manufacturer's responsibility under this chapter.
- If a new motor vehicle does not conform
to all applicable express warranties and the consumer reports
the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent or authorized
dealer during the term of the warranty, the manufacturer shall
cause whatever repairs are necessary to conform the vehicle to
the warranties, notwithstanding the fact that the repairs are
made after the expiration of a warranty term.
- A manufacturer, its agent or authorized
dealer shall not refuse to provide a consumer with a written
repair order and shall provide to the consumer, each time the
consumer's vehicle is brought in for examination or repair of
a defect, a written summary of the complaint and a fully itemized
statement indicating all work performed on the vehicle including,
but not limited to, examination of the vehicle, parts, and labor.
- If, after a reasonable number of attempts,
the manufacturer, its agent or authorized dealer or its delegate
is unable to conform the motor vehicle to any express warranty
by repairing or correcting any defect or condition covered by
the warranty which substantially impairs the use, market value,
or safety of the motor vehicle to the consumer, the manufacturer
shall, at the option of the consumer within 30 days of the effective
date of the board's order, replace the motor vehicle with a new
motor vehicle from the same manufacturer, if available, of comparable
worth to the same make and model with all options and accessories
with appropriate adjustments being allowed for any model year
differences or shall accept return of the vehicle from the consumer
and refund to the consumer the full purchase price or to the
lessee, in the case of leased vehicles, as provided in paragraph
IX. In those instances in which a refund is tendered, the manufacturer
shall refund to the consumer the full purchase price as indicated
in the purchase contract and all credits and allowances for any
trade-in or down payment, license fees, finance charges, credit
charges, registration fees, and any similar charges and incidental
and consequential damages or, in the case of leased vehicles,
as provided in paragraph IX. Refunds shall be made to the consumer
and lienholder, if any, as their interests may appear, or to
the motor vehicle lessor and lessee as provided in paragraph
IX. A reasonable allowance for use shall be that amount directly
attributable to use by the consumer prior to the first repair
attempt and shall be calculated by multiplying the full purchase
price of the vehicle by a fraction having as its denominator
100,000, or for a motorcycle with an engine size of 250 cubic
centimeters or smaller 20,000, or for a motorcycle with an engine
size greater than 250 cubic centimeters 40,000, and having as its
numerator the number of miles that the vehicle traveled prior
to the first attempt at repairing the vehicle.
- It shall be an affirmative defense to
any claim under this chapter that an alleged nonconformity does
not substantially impair the use, market value, or safety or
that the nonconformity is the result of abuse, neglect, or unauthorized
modifications or alterations of a motor vehicle by a consumer.
- It shall be presumed that a reasonable
number of attempts have been undertaken to conform a motor vehicle
to the applicable warranties if:
- The same nonconformity as identified in
any written examination or repair order has been subject to repair
at least 3 times by the manufacturer, its agent, or authorized
dealer within the express warranty term and the same nonconformity
continues to exist; or
- The vehicle is out of service by reason
of repair of one or more nonconformities, defects, or conditions
for a cumulative total of 30 or more business days during the
term of the express warranty. The term of any warranty and the
30-day period shall be extended by any period of time during
which repair services were not available to the consumer because
of war, invasion, strike, fire, flood, or other natural disaster.
If an extension of time is necessitated due to these conditions,
the manufacturer shall provide for the free use of a vehicle
to the consumer whose vehicle is out of service. A vehicle shall
not be deemed out of service if it is available to the consumer
for a major part of the day.
- In order for an attempt at repair to
qualify for the presumptions of this section, the attempt at
repair shall be evidenced by a written examination or repair
order issued by the manufacturer, its agent, or its authorized
dealer. The presumptions of this section shall only apply to
3 attempts at repair evidenced by written examination or repair
orders undertaken by the same agent or authorized dealer, unless
the consumer shows good cause for taking the vehicle to a different
agent or authorized dealer.
- In cases in which a refund is tendered
by a manufacturer for a leased motor vehicle under paragraph
V, the refund and rights of the motor vehicle lessor, lessee,
and manufacturer shall be in accordance with the following:
- The manufacturer shall provide to the
lessee the aggregate deposit and rental payments previously paid
to the motor vehicle lessor by the lessee, and incidental and
consequential damages, if applicable, minus a reasonable allowance
for use. The aggregate deposit shall include, but not be limited
to, all cash payments and trade-in allowances tendered by the
lessee to the motor vehicle lessor under the lease agreement.
The reasonable allowance for use shall be calculated by multiplying
the aggregate deposit and rental payments made by the lessee
on the motor vehicle by a fraction having as its denominator
100,000 or for a motorcycle 20,000, and having as its numerator
the number of miles that the vehicle traveled prior to the first
attempt to repair the vehicle.
- The manufacturer shall provide to the
motor vehicle lessor the aggregate of the following:
- The lessor's actual purchase cost, less
payments made by the lessee;
- The freight cost, if applicable;
- The cost for dealer or manufacturer-installed
accessories, if applicable;
- Any fee paid to another to obtain the
lease;
- An amount equal to 5 percent of the lessor's
actual purchase cost as prescribed in subparagraph IX(b)(1).
The amount in this subparagraph shall be instead of any early
termination costs.
- The lessee's lease agreement with the
motor vehicle lessor and all contractual obligations shall be
terminated upon a decision of the board in favor of the lessee.
The lessee shall not be liable for any further costs or charges
to the manufacturer or motor vehicle lessor under the lease agreement.
- The motor vehicle lessor shall release
the motor vehicle title to the manufacturer upon the payment
by the manufacturer under the provisions of this section.
- The board shall give notice to the motor
vehicle lessor of the lessee's filing of a request for arbitration
under this chapter and shall notify the motor vehicle lessor
of the date, time and place scheduled for a hearing before the
board. The motor vehicle lessor shall provide testimony and evidence
necessary to the arbitration proceedings. Any decision of the
board shall be binding upon the motor vehicle lessor.
Source.1991, 222:1. 1992, 282:15, eff.
Jan. 1, 1993.
§ 357-D:4Procedure to Obtain
Refund or Replacement.
- After the third attempt at repair
or correction of the nonconformity, defect or condition, or after
the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair of one or more
nonconformities, defects or conditions for a cumulative total
of 30 or more business days as provided in this chapter, the
consumer shall notify the manufacturer along with a clear and
conspicuous disclosure notice of the rights of the consumer under
this chapter at the time the new motor vehicle is delivered,
of the nonconformity, defect or condition and the consumer's
election to proceed under this chapter. The forms shall be made
available by the manufacturer to the New Hampshire new motor
vehicle arbitration board, and any other public or nonprofit
agencies that shall request them. Forms and notices shall be
in a form prescribed by rule of the department of justice and
shall not include window stickers. The consumer shall, in the
notice, elect whether to use the dispute settlement mechanism
or the arbitration provisions established by the manufacturer
or to proceed under the New Hampshire new motor vehicle arbitration
board as established under this chapter. The consumer's election
of whether to proceed before the board or the manufacturer's
dispute settlement mechanism shall preclude his recourse to the
method not selected.
- A consumer shall not pursue a remedy under
this chapter if he has discontinued financing or lease payments,
if the payments have been discontinued due to the manufacturer's
breach of obligation under this chapter or due to a breach of
the manufacturer's warranties.
- A consumer who elects to proceed before
the board shall pay a filing fee of $ 50 and the manufacturer
shall pay a filing fee of $ 250. Such fees shall be retained
by the department of safety and used to defray costs associated
with the work of the board, including per diem costs of board
members and any other administrative expenses.
- Arbitration of the consumer's complaint,
either through the manufacturer's dispute settlement mechanism
or the board, shall be held within 40 days of receipt by the
manufacturer or the board and the manufacturer of the consumer's
notice electing the remedy of arbitration unless the consumer
or the manufacturer has good cause for an extension of time,
not to exceed an additional 30-day period. If the extension of
time is requested by the manufacturer, the manufacturer shall
provide free use of a vehicle to the consumer if the consumer's
vehicle is out of service. In the event the consumer elects to
proceed in accordance with the manufacturer's dispute settlement
mechanism and the arbitration of the dispute is not held within
40 days of the manufacturer's receipt of the consumer's notice
and the manufacturer is not able to establish good cause for
the delay, the consumer shall be entitled to receive the relief
requested under this chapter.
- Within the 40-day period set forth in paragraph
IV, the manufacturer shall have one final opportunity to correct
and repair the defect which the consumer claims entitles him
to a refund or replacement vehicle. If the consumer is satisfied
with the corrective work done by the manufacturer or his delegate,
the arbitration proceedings shall be terminated without prejudice
to the consumer's right to request that arbitration be recommended
as provided in RSA 357-D:11, I(b) if the repair proves unsatisfactory.
- The manufacturer shall refund the reasonable
allowance provided for in RSA 357-D:3, V or IX, or make the replacement
required by the board within 30 days of a decision of the board
or within 15 days of final adjudication.
Source.1991, 222:1. 1994, 220:3, eff.
Jan. 1, 1995.
§ 357-D:5New Motor Vehicle
Arbitration Board Established; Administrative Attachment; Rulemaking;
Decisions.
- There is created a New Hampshire new motor
vehicle arbitration board consisting of 5 members and 3 alternate
members to be appointed by the governor and council. Terms of
members shall be for 3 years. Board members may be appointed
for no more than 2 terms. One member and one alternate of the
board shall be new car dealers in New Hampshire, one member and
one alternate shall be persons knowledgeable in automobile mechanics,
and 3 members and one alternate shall be persons who represent
consumers and have no direct involvement in the design, manufacture,
distributions, sales or service of motor vehicles or their parts.
Three members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Members
shall be paid $50 per diem plus mileage.
- The board shall be administratively attached
to the department of safety under RSA 21-G:10.
- The board shall adopt rules, pursuant
to RSA 541-A, to implement the provisions of this chapter.
- The board shall hold a hearing within
40 days of receipt of a complaint, unless an extension of time
has been granted by the board under RSA 357-D:4, IV, and shall
render a decision within 30 days of the conclusion of a hearing.
The board shall have the authority to issue only damages as are
provided by this chapter.
Source.1991, 222:1. 1994, 220:4, 5,
eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
§ 357-D:6Appeal From Board's
Decision.
- The decision of the board shall be final and
shall not be modified or vacated unless, on appeal to the superior
court, a party to the arbitration proceeding proves, by clear
and convincing evidence, that:
- The award was procured by corruption,
fraud or other undue means.
- There was evident partiality by the board
or corruption or misconduct by the board prejudicing the rights
of any party.
- The board exceeded its powers.
- The board refused to postpone a hearing
after being shown sufficient cause to do so, refused to hear
evidence material to the controversy, or otherwise conducted
the hearing contrary to the rules adopted by the board so as
to prejudice substantially the rights of a party.
- A party to the arbitration proceeding
shall not pursue an appeal until a final decision has been rendered
by the board. Any appeal shall be filed with the superior court
within 30 days of the date of the written board decision.
Source.1991, 222:1. 1994, 220:6, eff.
Jan. 1, 1995.
§ 357-D:7Unfair and Deceptive
Acts and Practices.
Failure of the manufacturer or distributor
to comply with a decision of the board shall constitute an unfair
or deceptive act or practice under RSA 358-A:2.
Source.1991, 222:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
§ 357-D:8Dealer's Liability.
Nothing in this chapter imposes any liability on a franchised
motor vehicle dealer or creates a cause of action by a consumer
against a dealer, except for written express warranties made
by the dealer apart from the manufacturer's warranties. A dealer
shall not be made a party defendant in any action involving or
relating to this chapter, except as provided in this section.
The manufacturer shall not charge back or require reimbursement
by the dealer for any costs, including, but not limited to, any
refunds or vehicle replacements, incurred by the manufacturer
arising from this chapter.
Source.1991, 222:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
§ 357-D:9Notification to Consumers;
Rulemaking by Department of Justice.
Beginning with the
model year following July 1, 1992, the manufacturer of every
motor vehicle sold in this state shall provide a clear and conspicuous
written notice of the consumer's rights under this chapter as
provided under RSA 357-D:4 at the time of the delivery of every
such new motor vehicle in this state. The manufacturer shall
provide the consumer with a self-addressed notice in a form developed
in accordance with rules adopted by the department of justice
under RSA 541-A and sufficient to notify the manufacturer of
the consumer's election to proceed under this chapter. The manufacturer
shall not delegate this responsibility to its authorized dealers.
The manufacturer of every new motor vehicle sold in this state
shall also provide a clear and conspicuous notice that informs
consumers of their rights under this chapter.
Source.1991, 222:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
§ 357-D:10Costs and Attorney's
Fees.
In any action by a consumer against the manufacturer
or distributor of a motor vehicle based upon the alleged breach
of an express warranty made in connection with the sale or lease
of such motor vehicle, the court, in its discretion, may award
to the plaintiff costs and reasonable attorney's fees. If the
court determines that the action was brought with no substantial
justification, it may award costs and reasonable attorney's fees
to the defendant.
Source.1991, 222:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
§ 357-D:11Limitations on Actions.
- Any proceeding initiated under the provisions of this
chapter shall be commenced within one year following the later
of:
- The expiration of the express warranty
term; or
- The manufacturer's final repair attempt
of the nonconformity, as provided in RSA 357-D:4, V which gave
rise to the consumer's request that the vehicle be replaced or
the money refunded.
- Nothing in this chapter shall in any way
limit the rights or remedies which are otherwise available to
a consumer under any other provision of law.
Source.1994, 220:7, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
§ 357-D:12Sale of Defective
Motor Vehicles.
- For purposes of this section "a
serious safety defect" means a life-threatening malfunction
or nonconformity that impedes the consumer's ability to control
or operate the motor vehicle for ordinary use or reasonable intended
purposes or creates a risk of fire or explosion.
- Any manufacturer or its agent or authorized
dealer is prohibited from reselling in New Hampshire any vehicle
determined or adjudicated by the board as having a serious safety
defect.
Source.1994, 395:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
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The
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a Federal Law that protects the buyer of any product which costs more than $25 and comes with an express written warranty.
This law applies to any product that you buy that does not perform as it should.
Your car is a major investment, rationalized by the peace of mind that flows from its expected dependability and safety. Accordingly, you are entitled
to expect an automobile properly constructed and regulated to provide reasonably safe, trouble-free, and dependable transportation – regardless
of the exact make and model you bought. Unfortunately, sometimes these principles do not hold true and defects arise in automobiles. Although one defect
is not actionable, repeated defects are as there exists a generally accepted rule that unsuccessful repair efforts render the warrantor liable. Simply
put, there comes a time when “enough is enough” – when after having to take your car into the shop for repairs an inordinate number
of times and experiencing all of the attendant inconvenience, you are entitled to say, ‘That’s all,’ and revoke, notwithstanding the
seller’s repeated good faith efforts to fix the car. The rationale behind these basic principles is clear: once your faith in the vehicle is shaken,
the vehicle loses its real value to you and becomes an instrument whose integrity is impaired and whose operation is fraught with apprehension. The question
thus becomes when is “enough”?
As you know, enough is never enough from your warrantor’s point of view and you should simply continue to have your defective vehicle repaired – time
and time again. However, you are not required to allow a warrantor to tinker with your vehicle indefinitely in the hope that it may eventually be fixed.
Rather, you are entitled to expect your vehicle to be repaired within a reasonable opportunity. To this end, both the federal Moss Warranty Act, and
the various state “lemon laws,” require repairs to your vehicle be performed within a reasonable opportunity.
Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty
Act, a warrantor should perform adequate repairs in at least two, and possibly three, attempts to correct a particular defect. Further, the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act’s reasonableness requirement applies to your vehicle as a whole rather than to each individual defect
that arises. Although most of the Lemon Laws vary from state to state, each individual law usually require a warrantor to cure a specific defect within
four to five attempts or the automobile as a whole within thirty days. If the warrantor fails to meet this obligation, most of the lemon laws provide
for a full refund or new replacement vehicle. Further, this reasonable number of attempts/reasonable opportunity standard, whether it be that of the
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or that of the Lemon Laws, is akin to strict liability – once this threshold has been met, the continued existence of
a defect is irrelevant and you are still entitled to relief.
One of the most important parts of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is its fee shifting
provision. This provision provides that you may recover the attorney fees incurred in the prosecution of your case if you are successful – independent
of how much you actually win. That rational behind this fee shifting provision is to twofold: (1) to ensure you will be able to vindicate your rights
without having to expend large sums on attorney's fees and (2) because automobile manufacturers are able to write off all expenses of defense as a
legitimate business expense, whereas you, the average consumer, obviously does not have that kind of economic staying power. Most of the Lemon Laws contain
similar fee shifting provisions.
You may also derive additional warranty rights from the Uniform Commercial Code; however, the Code does not allow you
in most states to recover your attorney fees and is also not as consumer friendly as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or the various state lemon laws.
The narrative information on Magnuson-Moss, UCC and lemon laws on these pages is provided by Marshall Meyers, attorney.
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Uniform
Commercial Code Summary
The Uniform Commercial Code or UCC has been enacted in all 50 states and some of the territories of the United States. It is the primary source of law
in all contracts dealing with the sale of products. The TARR refers to Tender, Acceptance, Rejection, Revocation and applies to different aspects of
the consumer's "relationship" with the purchased goods.
TENDER -
The tender provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code contained in Section2-601 provide that the buyer is entitled to reject any goods that fail in
any respect to conform to the contract. Unfortunately, new cars are often technically complex and their innermost workings are beyond the understanding
of the average new car buyer. The buyer, therefore, does not know whether the goods are then conforming.
ACCEPTANCE -
The new car buyer accepts the goods believing and expecting that the manufacturer will repair any problem he has with the goods under the warranty.
REJECTION
-
The new car buyer may discover a problem with the vehicle within the first few miles of his purchase. This would allow the new car buyer to reject
the goods. If the new car buyer discovers a defect in the car within a reasonable time to inspect the vehicle, he may reject the vehicle. This period
is not defined. On the one hand, the buyer must be given a reasonable time to inspect and that reasonable time to inspect will be held as an acceptance
of the vehicle. The Courts will decide this reasonable time to inspect based on the knowledge and experience of the buyer, the difficulty in discovering
the defect, and the opportunity to discover the defect.
The following is an example of a case of rejection: Mr. Zabriskie purchase a new 1966 Chevrolet Biscayne. After picking up the car on Friday evening,
while en route to his home 2.5 miles away, and within 7/10ths of a mile from the dealership, the car stalled and stalled again within 15 feet. Thereafter,
the car would only drive in low gear. The buyer rejected the vehicle and stopped payment on his check. The dealer contended that the buyer could not
reject the car because he had driven it around the block and that was his reasonable opportunity to inspect. The New Jersey Court said;
To the layman,
the complicated mechanisms of today's automobile are a complete mystery. To have the automobile inspected by someone with sufficient expertise to disassemble
the vehicle in order the discover latent defects before the contract is signed, is assuredly impossible and highly impractical. Consequently, the first
few miles of driving become even more significant to the excited new car buyer. This is the buyer's first reasonable opportunity to enjoy his new vehicle
to see if it conforms to what it was represented to be and whether he is getting what he bargained for. How long the buyer may drive the new car under
the guise of inspection of new goods is not an issue in the present case because 7/10th of a mile is clearly within the ambit of a reasonable opportunity
to inspect. Zabriskie Chevrolet, Inc. v. Smith, 240 A. 2d 195(1968)
It is suggested that Courts will tend to excuse use by consumers if possible.
REVOCATION -
What happens when the consumer has used the new car for a lengthy period of time? This is the typical lemon car case. The UCC provides that a buyer
may revoke his acceptance of goods whose non-conformity substantially impairs the value of the goods to him when he has accepted the goods without
discovery of a non-conformity because it was difficult to discover or if he was assured that non-conformities would be repaired. Of course, the average
new car buyer does not learn of the nonconformity until hundreds of thousands of miles later. And because quality is job one, and manufacturers are
competing on the basis of their warranties, the consumer always is assured that any noncomformities he does discover will be remedied.
What is a noncomformity substantially impairing the value of the vehicle?
- A noncomformity may include a number of relatively minor defects whose cumulative total adds up to a substantial impairment. This is the "Shake
Faith" Doctrine first stated in the Zabrisikie case. "For a majority of people the purchase of a new car is a major investment, rationalized
by the peace of mind that flows from its dependability and safety. Once their faith is shaken, the vehicle loses not only its real value in their eyes,
but becomes an instrument whose integrity is substantially impaired and whose operation is fraught with apprehension".
- A substantial noncomformity may include a failure or refusal to repair the goods under the warranty. In Durfee V. Rod Baxter Imports, the Minnesota
Court held that the Saab owner that was plagued by a series of of annoying minor defects and stalling, which were never repaired after a number of attempts,
could revoke, "if repairs are not successfully undertaken within a reasonable time", the consumer may elect to revoke.
- Substantial Non Conformity and Lemon Laws often define what may be considered a substantial impairment. These definitions have been successfully used
to flesh out the substantial impairment in the UCC.
Additional narrative information on Magnusson-Moss, UCC and lemon laws on these pages is provided by T. Michael Flinn, attorney.
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