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Questions and Answers
What is the minimum repair warranty that shops are legally required to provide?
What legal action can customers take in small claims court for poor repair quality or not following repair order laws?
What is the most common legal encounter for shops?
What is the purpose of lemon laws?
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What is the minimum number of unsuccessful repair attempts required for a vehicle to qualify as a lemon in most states?
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What is the penalty for manufacturers that act in bad faith in resolving a lemon law complaint in Maryland?
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Do lemon laws apply to used cars?
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What legal contract is formed between the shop and the customer?
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What is the responsibility of shops regarding unsafe and potentially dangerous conditions?
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What is the purpose of longer service repair guarantees offered by shops?
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What is the purpose of a voluntary buy back?
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What is the process of binding arbitration?
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What is the benefit of using binding arbitration for resolving customer complaints?
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What is a repair order in automotive service?
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What is a shop's general responsibility in automotive service?
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What can customers do in small claims court for minor complaints in automotive service?
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What is a minimum repair warranty in automotive service?
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What is civil liability in automotive service?
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What are lemon laws in automotive service?
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What is the most common requirement for a vehicle to qualify as a lemon under lemon laws?
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What is the penalty for manufacturers that act in bad faith in resolving a lemon law complaint in Maryland?
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Do lemon laws apply to used cars in automotive service?
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What is the dealership's responsibility when a customer alleges a lemon law violation in automotive service?
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Study Notes
Legal Responsibilities and Liabilities in Automotive Service
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Automotive service shops have legal responsibilities and liabilities for each service transaction they perform.
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The repair order is a legal contract between the shop and the customer, stating their commitments and expectations.
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The repair order must comply with state and local codes and laws regulating service transactions.
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Quality repairs that meet or exceed customer expectations are the shop's general responsibility.
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Customers can take legal action in small claims court for minor complaints such as poor repair quality or not following repair order laws.
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Shops are legally required to provide a minimum repair warranty, which is typically 90 days/4,000 miles.
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Failure to comply with legal requirements can result in expensive legal proceedings and negative publicity for the shop.
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Shops can offer longer service repair guarantees as a marketing benefit to demonstrate their commitment to quality.
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Shops have a responsibility to advise customers of unsafe and potentially dangerous conditions, and must clearly document any warnings.
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Civil liability is the most common legal encounter for shops, but criminal liability is possible if they knowingly perform substandard work.
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Dealership service departments have unique legal responsibilities regarding manufacturer warranties and lemon laws.
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Lemon laws give customers the right to a vehicle that meets its intended use, and shops must be aware of these laws and take appropriate action.Understanding Lemon Laws: What They Are and How They Differ by State
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Lemon laws are state-specific regulations that provide relief to consumers who have purchased a defective vehicle.
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Lemon laws vary by state, but most require either three unsuccessful repair attempts or thirty days out of service before a vehicle qualifies as a lemon.
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Some states, like South Dakota, have more lenient lemon laws that allow for up to four repair attempts and an additional 21 days after the customer has filed a lemon law notification.
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Other states have more stringent lemon laws, with tighter time limits for addressing and resolving vehicle problems and stricter penalties for manufacturers who fail to resolve lemon law issues.
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Some states, like North Carolina and Wisconsin, allow customers to be awarded double or triple damages, while Maryland provides up to $10,000 in damage awards for manufacturers that act in bad faith in resolving a Lemon law complaint.
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It is important for consumers to know the lemon law in their area to ensure they can address and resolve complaints within the limits of the law.
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When a customer pursues a lemon law action, the dealership and its employees may be named in the suit, and their competency and willingness to provide service will be questioned.
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Dealerships should make every attempt to accommodate customer needs, resolve problems, and notify the manufacturer in order to avoid legal action.
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As soon as a customer alleges a lemon law violation, the dealership should contact the manufacturer's representative to obtain immediate support and assistance to resolve the concerns.
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Lemon laws only apply to new vehicles and do not cover used cars.
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Lemon laws typically require the manufacturer to replace or repurchase the vehicle, or provide a refund to the customer.
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Lemon laws also provide protections for consumers who lease a vehicle, and some states have specific lemon laws that apply to leased cars.
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Description
Test your knowledge of Legal Responsibilities and Liabilities in Automotive Service and Understanding Lemon Laws with this informative quiz. Learn about the legal requirements for automotive service shops, the importance of repair warranties, and the potential consequences of failing to comply with state and local laws. Discover the intricacies of Lemon Laws and how they vary by state, as well as the responsibilities of dealerships in resolving complaints. Take this quiz to become a knowledgeable and responsible consumer in the automotive industry.
