New Jersey Lemon Law Attorneys

State Lemon Law Citation

N.J.S.A. 56

New Car: N.J.S.A. 56:12-29 to 56:12-49; Used Car: N.J.S.A. 56:8-67 et seq.

Coverage Period / Mileage

2 years

New: 2 years or 24,000 miles; Used: 30–90 days based on mileage at sale

Presumption Trigger

3 repairs

3 or more repair attempts for the same defect, or 20 cumulative days out of service

Federal Backup

Magnuson-Moss

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.; NJ Consumer Fraud Act (N.J.S.A. 56:8) with treble damages

Statute of Limitations

6 years

New Car LL: must demand arbitration/refund before warranty expires; 6 years for NJ Consumer Fraud Act

Typical attorney fee

Fee-shifting

Fee-shifting — if you win, the other side pays your attorney’s fees

Not because the law is weak — because there's so much of it that picking the right combination is the whole game. A new vehicle qualifies under N.J.S.A. 56:12-29 to 56:12-49 when, within 2 years or 24,000 miles, the manufacturer can't fix a nonconformity in 3 attempts or the car sits out of service 20 cumulative days. A used vehicle bought from a New Jersey dealer carries a statutory warranty under N.J.S.A. 56:8-67 et seq. — 30, 60, or 90 days depending on mileage at sale — with a refund remedy when the dealer can't fix it. On top of either claim, the Consumer Fraud Act (N.J.S.A. 56:8) converts unconscionable conduct into mandatory treble damages plus attorney fees under § 56:8-19, and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. § 2301) covers what the state statutes miss. There's also the Division of Consumer Affairs arbitration program, which is fast and binding on the manufacturer — when it's the right move, which it isn't always. An attorney sequences these correctly; an unrepresented consumer usually picks one lane and leaves the leverage on the table.