RV Lemon Law

The call of the open road beckons. There are new vistas to admire, new towns to explore, and new adventures to experience. Packing up your family and taking a road trip in your motor home is the quintessential American vacation. Whether you’re going to a campground an hour from your house or are traveling across the prairies and mountains from sea to shining sea, your RV transforms into your home away from home. But when your new coach is stuck in the driveway, repeatedly at the dealer for repairs, or breaks down during what should be a relaxing weekend away from it all, your American dream can turn into a nightmare. Thankfully, if your motor home turns out to be a lemon, you can turn a decidedly sour experience into something sweeter.

Motor Home Lemon Laws

Typically, motor homes are covered by each state’s new car Lemon Law. Lemon Laws in the following states, however, do not cover RVs: Alabama, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Tennessee.

Generally speaking, an RV is defined as a lemon when you have had to take it in to the dealer multiple times to get a problem fixed. Although each state is different, most Lemon Laws require that you take your RV in for repair between two times (for serious safety defects) and four times (for other types of problems), or that the motor home is out of service for 30 days. Again, while each state has its own definition of a “new” motor home, if you’ve owned it less than two years or have driven it fewer than 18,000 miles (whichever comes first), you’re generally covered by Lemon Laws.

Limitations of Lemon Laws

In most states, Lemon Laws are deemed to protect only the motorized parts and the cab of a motor home, and do not cover the living areas. Yet in Washington, for example, defects in ventilation, heating, or air conditioning systems that have a detrimental effect on the comfort of those in the cab may be covered. And in California, although the Lemon Law doesn’t cover the living quarters, another state law (the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act) fills the gap.

Other Laws Can Help

It’s important to remember that, even if you’re not covered by your state’s Lemon Law, you may still be able to get resolution from Federal laws, such as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Uniform Commercial Code. If your RV lemon came with a warranty, your Lemon Law attorney can use these and other applicable laws to help you get a refund, a replacement RV, and/or a financial settlement.

America’s highways are the heartbeat of our nation, and the freedom to travel is exhilarating. If you have an RV lemon, you deserve swift justice that will get you on the road again.