The manufacturer or dealer should advise you about an arbitration program available to informally resolve disputes. If you apply for arbitration, you should expect to wait several weeks for your hearing to be scheduled. Informal arbitration is, however, much faster and less formal than a court proceeding. Arbitration allows a neutral third party to make a decision about your case based on the merits of the claim. The Attorney General's Office has rules for approval of arbitration programs that are intended to ensure a their and timely resolution to the dispute.
All automakers participate in some kind of arbitration program.
Some of these have been approved by the Attorney General, but others have not. If a program has been approved by the Attorney General, you must go through arbitration before you have the right to file a lawsuit. Contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section to learn which manufacturers have approved arbitration programs. You can find information from your dealer or with the warranty materials explaining how to apply for arbitration. For approved arbitration programs, you have the right to request an oral hearing of your case.