Is Your New Motorhome or RV a Lemon? New Recreational Vehicle Lemon Law

The purchase of a motorhome constitutes one of the largest investments many consumer making during their lifetime.  Whether you purchase a defective motorhome, 5^th wheel trailer, travel trailer or another type of RV, there is a risk you will end up with a lemon.  Thousands of motorhomes and other RVs purchased each year turn out to be defective.  State and federal lemon laws can provide a remedy that keeps you from losing your investment.  Even if the lemon law in your state partially or totally excludes motorhomes or recreational vehicles, this does not preclude you from pursuing a legal claim under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which is a federal statute that can provide financial relief to consumers stuck with defective vehicles.

Lemon law attorney Ken Stern has effectively represented hundreds upon hundreds of consumers with defective vehicles, so he has the expertise to pursue a consumer’s down payment, loan payments, and other amounts paid toward your purchase or to seek replacement of the vehicle.  Ken has over thirty years of experience representing consumers against large product manufacturers, so he is qualified to handle the full spectrum of lemon law claims involving RVs, which include but are not limited to the following:

• Travel Trailers
• Fifth Wheel Trailers
• Class C Motorhomes

• Class B Motorhomes
• Class A Motorhomes

Stern Law, PLLC also handles claims against a wide range of RV manufacturers including:

• Gulf Stream
• Mobile Scout
• Dutchman
• Fleetwood
• Workhorse Custom Chassis
• Sportscoach
• Aerolite
• Skyline
• Coachman
• Travel Supreme
• Crossroads RV
• Allison Transmission
• Newmar
• Travel Supreme
• Caterpillar
• Lippert Components, Inc.
• Monaco
• SunnyBrook RV
• Thor
• Alfa
• Georgie Boy
  Eclipse Recreational Vehicles
• Keystone RV
• Rexhall
• Jayco

• Tiffin
• Winnebago
• Weekend Warrior
• Prevost
• Freightliner Custom Chassis
• Country Coach
• Blue Bird
• Marathon
• Endeavor
• General Coach
• Alpine
• Mandalay
• Damon RV
• Newell
• Polaris
• Airstream
• Itasca
• Komfort
• Intruder
• National RV
• Viking RV
• American Coach
• Other manufacturers of recreational vehicles

State Lemon Law Claims for Defective RVs

While all lemon law claims involve potential traps and pitfall, cases involving recreational vehicles can be more challenging because these vehicles often are treated differently than car, trucks, SUVs, or vans.  Many state lemon laws completely exclude motorhomes from coverage, so an alternate strategy must be pursued, such as a claim under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.  Although some state lemon laws do cover purchased or leased motorhomes, they frequently are treated differently than an automobile.  Certain lemon laws only cover defects in the chassis of the vehicle while others limit coverage to the “non-living” areas within the vehicle.  Depending on your state, the chassis, propulsion system, and chassis cab might be covered but not other portions of the motorhome.

The manufacturer of your defective RV will know whether your state lemon law covers RVs and the extent of such coverage, so you should talk to an experienced RV lemon law attorney who can make sure you understand your legal options.  If your motorhome, 5^th wheel, or another motor vehicle is covered under a lemon law, you must allow the manufacturer a reasonable opportunity to correct the problem.  This repair opportunity involves three or four repair attempts in many states, but the number of attempts can be as few as one or two where serious safety issue constitute the problem.  Further, the vehicle also might be subject to a lemon law claim if the vehicle is out of service for repair for a sufficient period, which often is thirty days but can be as few as fifteen in some states.

Federal Lemon Law Claims for Recreational Vehicles

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (also referred to as the federal lemon law) protects consumers when the manufacturer of a motorhome or other RV fails to honor its written warranty.  The manufacturer must be given a reasonable opportunity to repair the vehicle, so you should take the motorhome to an authorized dealer to allow the manufacturer a reasonable chance to remedy the problem.  Consumers should keep good records regarding the complaints and the time the vehicle was out of service.  All correspondence should be saved, and you should keep good records regarding your communications with the dealer and manufacturer.  While some consumers worry about the cost of legal fees, the federal lemon law (and state lemon laws) authorize a prevailing consumer to recover attorney fees from the manufacturer of the recreational vehicle.  If you believe you have provided a reasonable opportunity for the manufacturer to repair the problem and your request for a replacement vehicle has been denied, you should seek immediate legal advice from an experienced recreational vehicle lemon law attorney.

Contact a Motorhome Lemon Law Attorney

If you are stuck with a defective motorhome or other RV, Stern Law, PLLC provides representation against makers of motorhomes, 5^th wheel trailers, and travel trailers.  We invite you to contact us today.  Call Stern Law, PLLC at (844) 808-7529 or submit a confidential lemon law inquiry formm today.