Lemon Law Attorney

Your new vehicle has gone back to the dealership three or four times for the same problem. The service department either can't reproduce it or tells you a part is on back order. And you're still making the payment.

Michigan and Ohio both wrote lemon laws for exactly this. As a Michigan and Ohio lemon law attorney, Ron Weiss has held vehicle manufacturers to those laws since 1993. We have offices in West Bloomfield and Toledo, and we accept lemon law cases from anywhere in either state. Contact us at Ronald S. Weiss, Attorney & Counselor today to start discussing your case and options.

Lemon Law Claims We Handle

Ron has handled claims involving vehicles from nearly every major manufacturer sold in Michigan and Ohio.

• Chevy lemon law: We represent owners and lessees of Chevrolet cars, crossovers, and Silverado pickups.

• GMC lemon law: Sierra and Yukon buyers have the same rights under the statute as anyone who buys a passenger car.

• Ford lemon law: An F-150 bought for personal use qualifies in both states, and so do Ford's cars and SUVs.

• Jeep lemon law: A Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, or 4xe plug-in hybrid can qualify once it meets the repair thresholds.

• Dodge Ram lemon law: Ram 1500 pickups used for everyday driving are covered.

• Dodge lemon law: This covers the Durango, the Charger, and the rest of the Dodge lineup.

• Chrysler lemon law: Pacifica owners, including Pacifica Hybrid owners, have the same protection.

Why Choose Ron Weiss as Your Lemon Law Lawyer

Ron Weiss earned his law degree from Wayne State University in 1993 and was admitted to the Michigan bar that same year. He added his Ohio license in 2003. Ron is also admitted to the federal district courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan and the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio. Some warranty claims are filed in federal court, and Ron can appear in those courts in both states.

He serves as the Michigan co-chair of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, known as NACA, a national organization of attorneys who represent consumers rather than corporations. Ron is a member of the National Consumer Law Center and the State Bar of Michigan's Consumer Law Section. He has also been interviewed about consumer rights on WWJ 950 AM and 910 AM Superstation.

When you call our office, Ron takes the case himself. You won't be handed off to a case manager or a junior associate at any point.

Michigan and Ohio both allow a consumer who wins a lemon law case to recover attorney fees from the manufacturer, and your first consultation with us is free.

What Our Clients Are Saying

"Ron was great! So kind, patient, and professional. He is very knowledgable in his industry, and takes the time to explain and answer all the questions you have. He helped me with my lemon vehicle, in a situation where I'd lost all hope. I would recommend him to anyone!"

- Ashley Tomasello

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Does My Car Qualify as a Lemon?

A defect doesn't need to be dangerous to count. A transmission that shudders every morning, a center screen that keeps rebooting and takes the backup camera down with it, a water leak no one can trace, or battery failures in an electric vehicle can all qualify when they substantially impair the vehicle's use or value. Damage from an accident, abuse, or an aftermarket modification is excluded in both Michigan and Ohio.

Michigan Lemon Law Requirements

Michigan lemon law covers passenger vehicles, SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans that were bought or leased in Michigan, or by a Michigan resident, while the manufacturer's warranty was in effect. The statute, MCL 257.1401 to 257.1410, excludes motor homes, buses, larger trucks, and any vehicle built to travel on fewer than four wheels. Motorcycles are not covered in Michigan.

Timing is strict. You must report the defect to the manufacturer or a dealer during the warranty term or within one year of delivery, whichever ends first. After that, Michigan presumes the manufacturer had a fair chance to fix the vehicle if either of these happens:

1. The same defect has been repaired four or more times within two years of the first repair attempt, and it's still there.

2. The vehicle has been out of service for repairs for 30 or more total days during the warranty or the first year, whichever ends first.

Before demanding a buyback, you have to send the manufacturer written notice by return receipt mail. In a repair-count case, the notice goes out after the third attempt. In a days-out-of-service case, it goes out once the vehicle has been in the shop for at least 25 days. The manufacturer then gets five business days at a repair facility it chooses. We prepare and send that notice for our clients, because a missing or late notice gives the manufacturer an easy defense.

Every day a dealer holds your car for a covered repair counts toward the 30-day total, including partial days.

Michigan gives a buyer the right to demand a refund rather than a replacement. A leased vehicle is refunded based on the lease price paid, and the leasing company can't charge an early termination fee. If the manufacturer runs an informal dispute program that meets federal standards, you must try that program first. You are not bound by its decision.

Ohio Lemon Law Requirements

Ohio lemon law protects buyers of new passenger cars, motorcycles, and other noncommercial vehicles, plus the vehicle portion of a motor home. Under R.C. 1345.71, a lessee qualifies when the lease runs 30 days or longer. The problem has to be reported within the first year or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first, but repair attempts that spill past that window still count.

Ohio's presumption is broader than Michigan's. R.C. 1345.73 presumes the manufacturer had a reasonable opportunity to repair if, within that first year or 18,000 miles, any one of these occurred:

1. The same problem was repaired three or more times and it continues or comes back.

2. The vehicle spent a cumulative 30 or more calendar days in the shop.

3. There were eight or more repair attempts for any combination of problems.

4. One repair attempt failed on a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury.

In Ohio, you choose the remedy. You can take a new replacement vehicle or a refund of the full purchase price. Some manufacturers use arbitration programs certified by the Ohio Attorney General, and when one applies, you go through it before filing suit. A lawsuit must be filed within five years of the vehicle's original delivery under R.C. 1345.75. That same section lets a consumer who wins recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs.

What a Lemon Law Buyback Covers

Ohio's refund statute has no mileage deduction. Michigan's does. The Michigan formula multiplies the purchase price by the miles you drove before first reporting the defect, then divides by 100,000, and miles beyond 25,000 can be deducted too. On a $50,000 truck first reported at 4,000 miles, that deduction comes to $2,000.

Sales tax, title and registration fees, and manufacturer-installed options all go into the refund calculation in Michigan. Both states reimburse towing and rental costs caused by the defect when the manufacturer didn't cover them. Ohio goes further. It adds meals, lodging, finance charges, service contracts, and the fees for canceling your loan or lease.

A leased vehicle's buyback works differently, because the refund is based on what you paid toward the lease rather than a purchase price.

Some vehicles fall outside both state laws. A used car still under factory warranty is one example; a motorcycle in Michigan is another. The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act may still apply in those cases, and it also allows a consumer who wins to recover attorney fees. A federal warranty claim can fill the gap when a vehicle misses a state deadline.

Lemon Law FAQs

Should I accept the manufacturer's goodwill offer?

Not before someone reviews it. Extended warranties, service credits, and "trade assist" offers are common, and they are almost always worth less than a statutory buyback. We compare every offer against what the statute provides before a client signs anything.

Can I keep driving the vehicle while the claim is pending?

Yes, in most cases. Michigan's mileage deduction only counts the miles before your first report and the miles beyond 25,000, so ordinary driving during the claim usually doesn't shrink a Michigan refund. Keep making your loan or lease payments. Falling behind can complicate a buyback.

Does the lemon law cover used cars?

Michigan's law can reach a used vehicle that is still under the manufacturer's warranty, but the defect still has to be reported within one year of delivery to the first owner. Ohio's lemon law doesn't apply to a vehicle more than one year old or driven more than 18,000 miles. In both states, a federal warranty claim may still be available.

Read more answers to frequently asked questions on our Lemon Law FAQ page.