- A privately owned passenger car, pickup truck, van, or sport utility vehicle
- Purchased or leased from a used car dealer in Illinois
- Used primarily for personal, family, or household use
- Within the lemon law's warranty period (see below)
The Illinois Lemon Law defines a "lemon" as a used vehicle that has a substantial defect that cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. A substantial defect is defined as one that:
- Affects the vehicle's safety, value, or use
- Is not caused by the owner's abuse, neglect, or improper maintenance
- Cannot be repaired to conform to the terms of the warranty
The lemon law's warranty period for a used car is:
- 30 days or 1,000 miles, whichever comes first, if the vehicle is sold with a warranty
- 14 days or 500 miles, whichever comes first, if the vehicle is sold "as is" or without a warranty
If you believe you have purchased a lemon, you must first contact the dealer and give them a reasonable opportunity to repair the defect. If the dealer cannot repair the defect after a reasonable number of attempts, you can then file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
The Attorney General's Office will investigate your complaint and attempt to negotiate a settlement between you and the dealer. If the Attorney General's Office is unable to reach a settlement, you may have to file a lawsuit against the dealer.
The Illinois Lemon Law provides a number of remedies for consumers who have purchased lemons, including:
- A refund of the purchase price or lease payments
- A replacement vehicle
- Repair of the defect
