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New Jersey Lemon Law

New Jersey’s New Car Lemon Law protects people who buy or lease a new vehicle when a covered defect cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts, as long as the problem shows up within the first 24,000 miles or two years, whichever comes first. If the car qualifies, the manufacturer must buy it back and refund you. Here is how it works in New Jersey.

24k
Miles / 2 yrs
3
Repair tries
20
Days in shop

Is your car a lemon in New Jersey?

A new car is presumed a lemon when a covered defect meets this test:

Within the window
24,000
miles
or 2 years · whichever first
AND
The repairs fail
same defect repaired, still broken
OR
20
days out of service, total

Your car is presumed a lemon. New Jersey requires the manufacturer to buy the vehicle back and refund the full purchase price, minus a mileage allowance for the use you got out of it.

One required step: after the third repair or 20 days out of service, you must notify the manufacturer in writing by certified mail and give it one final chance to fix the car within 10 days before the presumption applies.

New Jersey Lemon Law Articles

New Jersey Lemon Law articles are on the way. Check back soon, or explore the rest of our Lemon Law coverage in the meantime.

New Jersey at a Glance
StatuteN.J.S.A. 56:12-29
Coverage24,000 mi or 2 yrs
Repair attempts3 or more
Days out of service20 or more
Final noticeCertified mail, 10-day cure
RemedyFull refund (buyback)
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