Your protection under the law when you buy from a New York dealer extends to used cars as well. The dealer must provide a warranty on the vehicle that covers at least the engine, transmission, drive axle, brakes, radiator, steering, alternator, generator, starter, and ignition system (not including the battery).

Under the warranty, the dealer must either repair the defect or reimburse you for the repair costs. The length of the warranty depends on how many miles are on the vehicle when you buy it:

36,000 miles or less: 90-day or 4,000-mile warranty
36,001 miles to 79,999 miles: 60-day or 3,000-mile warranty
80,000 miles to 100,000 miles: 30-day or 1,000-mile warranty
A dealer does not have to warrant a vehicle that sells for less than $1,500 or whose odometer reading is more than 100,000 miles.

The Used Car Lemon Law entitles you to a replacement vehicle or refund if the dealer is unable to correct the problem after three repair attempts or the car has been out of service for 15 days.

To file a “Lemon Law” complaint, contact the New York State Attorney General’s Office at(NNN) NNN-NNNN

To file a complaint against a used car dealer, auction house or auctioneer, download a complaint form at www.nyc.gov/consumer. You can also file by sending the details of your complaint in writing to the Department of Consumer Affairs, Consumer Complaints Division, 42 Broadway, New York NY 10004.