New Jersey Lemon Law (NJ)

Qualifying Criteria in New Jersey

Under New Jersey's lemon law, your vehicle may qualify as a lemon if it meets the following criteria:

• Vehicle type: New and certain used motor vehicles purchased or leased in New Jersey
• Defect type: A nonconformity that substantially impairs the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle and is covered under the manufacturer's warranty
• Coverage period: The defect must occur within 2 years of delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first
• Repair attempts: The manufacturer or authorized dealer must have attempted to repair the same defect at least 3 times, or the vehicle must have been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days

Manufacturer Obligations

Must repair the nonconformity. If unable, must replace or refund. The Division of Consumer Affairs administers the program.

Available Remedies

If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under New Jersey law, you are entitled to:

• Replacement vehicle
• Full refund minus reasonable use allowance
• Attorney fees if consumer prevails in court

The "reasonable use allowance" deduction is typically calculated based on the mileage you accumulated before the first repair attempt, proportional to the vehicle's expected lifetime mileage. This ensures the manufacturer is not paying for use you already received from the vehicle.

Step-by-Step Filing Process in New Jersey

Follow these steps if you believe your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under New Jersey law:

1. 1 Report the defect to the dealer and manufacturer
2. 2 Allow at least 3 repair attempts for the same defect or 20+ calendar days out of service, or 1 attempt for a defect that could cause death or serious injury
3. 3 Send written notice to the manufacturer
4. 4 File with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs Lemon Law Unit
5. 5 Attend the state-administered arbitration hearing
6. 6 If rejected, appeal to Superior Court

Arbitration in New Jersey

Consumer must use the state-run Lemon Law Unit in the Division of Consumer Affairs. The state provides free arbitration hearings.

Important: In New Jersey, arbitration is a required step before you can file a lawsuit. This means you must exhaust the arbitration process first. The arbitration decision may or may not be binding depending on the specific program. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you typically have the right to appeal or file a civil action in court.

Filing Deadline

Within 2 years of delivery or 24,000 miles, or during the warranty period.

Missing the filing deadline can forfeit your rights under the lemon law. Keep detailed records of every repair visit, including dates, mileage, descriptions of the problem, and copies of all repair orders and receipts. This documentation will be critical for your claim.

Additional Notes

New Jersey has a strong state-run arbitration program at no cost to consumers. Also has a Used Car Lemon Law covering vehicles purchased from NJ dealers (coverage varies by mileage). Only 1 repair attempt needed for safety defects. Only 20 calendar days out of service required (lower than most states).