Maryland's Lemon Law applies to new or leased motor vehicles (including cars, light trucks and motorcycles), registered in Maryland, that are less than 24 months old and have been driven less than 18,000 miles. The law provides for consumers whose cars meet certain criteria to receive a refund or a replacement vehicle if repair attempts have failed to correct a problem, and the problem substantially impairs the use and market value of the vehicle.


The law provides that a dealer or manufacturer must correct a defect within 30 days after the consumer writes to the manufacturer by certified mail. If the manufacturer or dealer is unable to do so, the consumer is entitled to a refund or replacement vehicle under the Lemon Law if the car has:
• A brake or steering failure that was not corrected after the first repair attempt, and that causes the vehicle to fail Maryland's safety inspection; or
• Any one problem that substantially impairs the use and market value of the vehicle that was not corrected in four repair attempts; or
• Any number of problems that substantially impair the use and market value of the vehicle that have caused it to be out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days.


If the dealer has tried several times unsuccessfully to repair the problem and you believe the problem substantially impairs the use and market value of the vehicle -- you should write to the manufacturer immediately. You do not need to wait until the dealer has made the four repair attempts, or until the car has been out of service for 30 days.

If your car is a lemon, you are entitled to a replacement vehicle or the manufacturer must refund the full purchase price minus an allowance for use, not to exceed 15 percent of the purchase price.
If you have not yet notified the manufacturer and you think your car meets the definition of a lemon, you should immediately notify the manufacturer by letter, sent certified mail, return receipt requested. Use sample letter below as your template.


Send a copy of your letter to the MD Consumer Protection Division along with a completed complaint form available here http://www.oag.state.md.us/Forms/lemon.pdf

Consumer's Name
Address
City, State Zip Code
Telephone Number
Date
Manufacturer's Name
Address
City, State Zip Code
BY CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to notify you of the problems I have had with my[Year, Make, Model and VIN# XXXXX car] pursuant to Maryland's Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act, Md. Code Ann., Com. Law II., §14-1501 et seq.
I purchased my car from [Name of Dealership] on [date of purchase.] Approximately [amount of time after purchase], I began having trouble with [description of problem]. I took my car back to the dealer on [Dates of Repair Attempts] to have this problem corrected but to date, the dealer has been unable to do so. Thus far, [my car has been out of service for a total of [number] days/a dealership has attempted to repair this problem [number] times.] Attached are copies of the repair orders that document the dealership's attempts to repair my car.
This problem substantially impairs both the use and value of my car. Therefore, unless you are able to correct this problem within 30 days of your receipt of this letter, I request that you [repurchase or replace] my vehicle under the provisions of Md. Code Ann., Com. Law II, §14-1502.
Please contact me at the above address or telephone number to arrange a mutually convenient date and time for you to inspect my car and make the necessary repairs.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Enclosures