Leased Vehicle Lemon Law in MD

Maryland Lemon Law covers leased passenger vehicles, SUVs, vans, trucks under 3/4 ton, and motorcycles that are registered in Maryland, as well as used cars that are sold by dealers within 15 months or 15,000 miles of the original purchase (whichever comes first). In order to be considered a “lemon,” the vehicle must meet the following requirements: 

• Does not conform to the manufacturer’s express warranty
• Has manufacturer’s defects that occurred during the first 15 months from the original owner’s delivery date or the first 15,000 miles on the odometer (whichever period ends first)
• Has a brake or steering failure that was not corrected after the first repair attempt, and that causes the vehicle to fail Maryland’s safety inspection; or has any one problem that substantially impairs the use and market value of the vehicle that was not corrected in four repair attempts; or has any number of problems that substantially impair the use and market value of the vehicle that have caused it to be out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days

In addition, you must notify the manufacturer in writing and ask for assistance, but you don’t need to wait until there have been four repair attempts to do so. Your notification should be sent by certified mail, with a return receipt requested. You should send a copy of your letter to the Consumer Protection Division, along with a complaint form, which you can download here [link to http://www.oag.state.md.us/Forms/lemon.pdf].