Consumer Protection · Lemon Law
Lemon Law in Maryland
How many repair attempts and days out of service before Maryland presumes your vehicle is a lemon, and whether used cars are covered.
presumption trigger (same defect)
Do I meet the Maryland lemon presumption?
Enter your repairs and downtime. This checks the presumption; it is not a legal verdict.
This checklist is educational, not a legal verdict. Every state writes these numbers as a rebuttable presumption: hitting them shifts the burden to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer can still rebut it. Keep every repair order, send any required written notice, and consult a lawyer about your specific facts. This is legal information, not legal advice.
How the presumption works in Maryland
The prongs that shift the burden to the manufacturer.
The safety fast track is specific: a failure of the braking or steering system needs only 1 repair attempt to meet the presumption. Written certified-mail notice to the manufacturer, plus a 30-day cure period, is a required step before pursuing a refund or replacement.
Every state, Maryland included, writes these thresholds as a rebuttable presumption. Reaching them shifts the burden onto the manufacturer to prove your vehicle is not a lemon; it does not mean you automatically win. You may also qualify with fewer attempts if a "reasonable number" of repairs is shown some other way, and the manufacturer can rebut the presumption. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Used cars & leased vehicles
Which of the three coverage categories Maryland falls in.
The full picture, with the source
Every figure, and where it comes from.
| Same-defect attempts | 4 |
| Serious-safety attempts | 1 |
| Days out of service | 30 calendar days |
| Coverage window | Earlier of warranty expiration or 24 months / 18,000 miles from delivery |
| Used cars | New vehicles only |
| Leased vehicles | Covered |
| Statute | Md. Com. Law §14-1502 (Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act; §14-1501 et seq.) |
What Maryland car buyers get wrong
Maryland’s lemon law leans on a formal notice step and reserves its fastest track for a narrow, dangerous category. Under the Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act (Com. Law §14-1502), the state presumes a "reasonable number of attempts" has been made if the same defect is repaired 4 or more times, the vehicle is out of service for a cumulative 30 or more days, or a failure of the braking or steering system has been subject to the same repair at least once, all within the warranty period. That period is the earlier of 24 months or 18,000 miles from delivery. The braking-or-steering track is the code’s own language, and it needs only a single attempt, but the other defects need four. Before any of this, the consumer must send the manufacturer written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, and give it 30 days to fix the problem. Each threshold is a presumption trigger that shifts the burden to the manufacturer, not an automatic win, and any lawsuit must be filed within 3 years of delivery.
Common questions
How many repairs is a lemon in Maryland?
Maryland presumes a lemon after 4 attempts on the same defect, or just 1 attempt for a failure of the braking or steering system, or 30 days out of service, within the earlier of 24 months or 18,000 miles. Each is a rebuttable presumption.
Do I have to send written notice before a Maryland lemon-law claim?
Yes. You must report the nonconformity to the manufacturer in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, during the warranty period, and give the manufacturer 30 days to complete the repair before pursuing a refund or replacement.
Does a brake or steering problem qualify faster in Maryland?
Yes. A failure of the braking or steering system that has been subject to the same repair at least once can meet the presumption after a single attempt, compared with four attempts for other defects.
How long does Maryland’s lemon law cover a new car?
The warranty period for the presumption runs to the earlier of 24 months or 18,000 miles from original delivery. A separate limit requires any lawsuit to be filed within 3 years of delivery.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.