Under NC’s Lemon Law, the manufacturer gets a “reasonable” number of repair attempts to fix your vehicle’s defect. In most cases, reasonable means four attempts for the same problem. However, it can also mean 20 or more business days out of service within any 12-month period of the warranty.
How Many Manufacturer Repair Attempts Trigger a Lemon Law Claim?
NC’s Lemon Law sets two baselines for what is considered a reasonable number of repair attempts:
Four or more repair attempts for the same defect. Each visit must be documented with a written repair order. Always demand one — even if the dealer claims they could not find the problem. In fact, “can’t duplicate” visits still count as repair attempts.
20 or more business days out of service in one year. This threshold covers multiple different defects — not just one repeated problem. Keep a log of every date your vehicle goes in and comes out of the dealership (or the repair records).
Your vehicle must also meet one more test. The defect must substantially impair its value to the consumer – that’s you! Minor cosmetic issues typically do not qualify. However, serious engine, transmission, or electrical problems generally do. What is substantial, like beauty, is typically in the eye of the beholder, but it has to be objectively reasonble.
Ready to Find Out if You Have a Claim?
Read our case results to see what we have won. Then contact us or call 919.981.4475 for a free case review. No fee unless we win.
