If your new vehicle spends much of its time in the repair shop, you may have a lemon. However, Illinois provides a legal remedy to consumers if their automobile does not meet reasonable standards of quality and performance. This legal remedy is referred to as a lemon law. In addition, the federal government has enacted lemon laws as well, referred to as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which protects individuals of all states, and may exceed the state’s law in certain instances.

The majority of new vehicles come with a manufacturer’s warranty assuring the purchaser that the vehicle will operate without a problem for a stated period of time or mileage.The lemon law Illinois only applies if a problem arises with your vehicle that the manufacturer is unwilling to repair. For example, most warranties provide that an automobile’s air conditioner or engine will operate without issue for the stated period of the warranty. In many instances the manufacturer may not honor the warranty. If this is the case, you can file a complaint against the manufacturer stating the lemon laws of Illinois as the basis for your complaint. In addition, if your vehicle has undergone numerous repair attempts but still does not operate according to reasonable quality and performance, you may be able to seek relief through the lemon laws of Illinois. Lemon laws also require the payment of the prevailing party’s legal fees as well as damages related to the breach of warranty.

The Illinois lemon law applies to new cars that are either purchased or leased within the state of Illinois. In addition, light trucks, vans, and recreational vehicles are also protected by lemon law Illinois. However, motorcycles and boats are not covered by Illinois state law. The relevant vehicle is only covered for the vehicle’s first 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever happens first. Illinois has additional requirements for a vehicle to be covered by the Illinois lemon law, including the vehicle must be out of service for at least 30 business days or the vehicle’s issue must impair the safety, market value or use of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the lemon law of Illinois do not apply to used vehicles. Therefore, if you purchased a used vehicle, you will have to seek other legal remedies for your vehicle.


The automobile’s warranty can be very confusing and it is best to seek legal assistance to determine if your automobile’s repairs are included as part of the warranty. Therefore, consider hiring an Illinois attorney experienced in lemon law Illinois to assist you with any legal action you choose to take against the car’s manufacturer. If you have questions about your legal rights and you need help finding an attorney in Illinois, contact the Illinois State Bar Association’s website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_State_Bar_Association. Also, you can find additional information about the lemon law Illinois by visiting the Illinois Better Business Bureau’s website. For example, if you live in Chicago, contact the Better Business Bureau that represents your area, http://chicago.bbb.org/.