NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that more than $2 million was refunded to 53 New York consumers in 2015 who claimed that their cars were lemons.
Lemon laws exist to help consumers who buy new or certain used vehicles that do not conform to written warranties.
The monetary refunds include cash awards, vehicle replacements and out-of-court settlements. The cash awards were divided between new car buyers at $1.6 million and used car buyers at $400,000.
“The Lemon Law Arbitration Program has proven to be efficient and effective means for both consumers and the auto industry to resolve disputes,” Schneiderman said. “Under this program, hundreds of auto consumers have obtained compensation without the costs and delays of going to court.”
The state received 292 new car applications in 2015. Seventy-nine new car cases were heard by arbitrators, with 43 coming out in favor of the consumer and 36 in favor of the manufacturer.