Did the product you bought turn out to be a defect-ridden "lemon"? A lemon law is a consumer-protection law that requires a manufacturer, and sometimes a dealer, to repair, replace, or refund a new product - most often a motor vehicle - when a substantial defect cannot be fixed within a reasonable number of attempts during the warranty period. The core idea is straightforward: if a product has a serious defect that impairs its use, value, or safety, and the seller cannot make it conform to the warranty, the buyer may have a statutory remedy beyond ordinary breach of warranty claims.

In Maryland, the controlling statute for new vehicles is the Maryland Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act. It generally applies when a nonconformity first appears within 24 months after original delivery or before 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. A presumption usually arises if the manufacturer has made 4 unsuccessful repair attempts for the same defect, or if the vehicle is out of service for repair for a cumulative total of 30 days or more. Maryland also has a separate used car warranty law with mileage-based warranty periods.

Practically, lemon law rights can matter in an injury case when a defect contributes to a crash or other harm. If faulty brakes, steering, lights, or a door latch were repeatedly repaired before an incident, those repair records may support a product liability claim, prove notice of the defect, and strengthen arguments about causation, damages, or a possible recall issue.