Source: https://www.fraudguides.com/lemon/texas/
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 20:14:02+00:00

Document:
If you are having repeated problems getting your new vehicle repaired, and it was purchased or leased from a licensed Texas dealer or lease company, the Texas Lemon Law may be able to help you get it repurchased, replaced or repaired.
Some examples of vehicles covered by the Lemon Law are cars, trucks, motorcycles, motor homes and ATVs. The law covers new and demonstrator vehicles that develop problems covered by a manufacturer’s written warranty. Towable recreational vehicles must be titled and registered in Texas to be eligible.
Your used vehicle may be covered under the Lemon Law. If your used vehicle is still covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty (not an extended service contract), or if the problem started while under warranty and it continues to exist, repair assistance of the warranty-related problem may be available to you.
The warranty period one year after the date of the vehicle’s original delivery to the consumer.
The Lemon Law complaint process can be less complicated, expensive and stressful than going to court. Because the filing deadline and other requirements are very specific, contact the Texas Department of Transportation for more information or assistance concerning warranty repair problems at (800) 622-8682 or (512) 416-4800. A $35 filing fee is charged for complaints about new vehicles.
When a complaint [pdf, 4 pages, 48kb] is received, it is reviewed by a Case Advisor to determine whether it meets the jurisdictional requirements of the law. If it does, the Case Advisor attempts to resolve the complaint through informal mediation, which may include an inspection of the vehicle. Often a complaint is resolved through mediation within the first 30 to 60 days after filing. If unresolved, it is scheduled for a hearing at a TxDOT location near the consumer’s residence. In order to get relief, consumers must prove to the Administrative Law Judge that their vehicle is a lemon. Manufacturers also have the right to appear and present evidence and argument to the contrary. Usually Judges issue their rulings within 30 to 45 days following the hearing.
Manufacturers are required to issue a disclosure statement on lemon vehicles and to affix a disclosure label (rearview mirror hang tag) to the vehicle. Both disclosure items must remain with the vehicle through the first retail sale. In addition, a buyback remark is placed in the title history of the vehicle to alert subsequent purchasers of the vehicle’s status.
Additional information on the Lemon Law complaint process is available in the Consumer’s Guide to the Texas Lemon Law videos.
§ 2301.204. COMPLAINT CONCERNING VEHICLE DEFECT.
(a) The owner of a motor vehicle or the owner’s designated agent may make a complaint concerning a defect in a motor vehicle that is covered by a manufacturer’s, converter’s, or distributor’s warranty agreement applicable to the vehicle.
(c) The owner may also invoke the board’s jurisdiction by sending a copy of the complaint to the board.
(1) “Impairment of market value” means a substantial loss in market value caused by a defect specific to a motor vehicle.
(C) is the transferee or assignee of a person described by Paragraph (A) or (B), a resident of this state, and entitled to enforce the manufacturer’s warranty.
(3) “Reasonable allowance for use” means the amount directly attributable to use of a motor vehicle when the vehicle is not out of service for repair.
It is the objective of this subchapter to implement the intent of the legislature as declared in Occupations Code, Subchapter M, (§§2301.601-2301.613) and §2301.204, by prescribing rules to provide a simplified and fair procedure for the enforcement and implementation of the Texas Lemon Law (Subchapter M) and consumer complaints covered by general warranty agreements (§2301.204), including the processing of complaints, the conduct of hearings, and the disposition of complaints filed by owners of motor vehicles seeking relief under these provisions of the Code.
(a) Complaints for relief under the lemon law must be in writing and filed with the division at its office in Austin. Complaints may be in letter form or any other written format or may be submitted on complaint forms provided by the division.
(b) Complaints should state sufficient facts to enable the division and the party complained against to know the nature of the complaint and the specific problems or circumstances which form the basis of the claim for relief under the lemon law.
(d) The division’s staff will provide information concerning the complaint procedure and complaint forms to any person requesting information or assistance.
(e) The filing fee required under Occupations Code, §2301.712, should be remitted with the complaint by check or money order. No filing fee is required for a complaint filed under Occupations Code, §2301.204. The filing fee is nonrefundable, but a complainant who prevails in a case is entitled to reimbursement of the amount of the filing fee. Failure to remit the filing fee with the complaint will result in delaying the commencement of the 150-day requirement provided in §8.206(12) of this chapter (relating to Hearings) and may result in dismissal of the complaint.
All complaints will be reviewed promptly by the division’s staff to determine whether they satisfy the requirements of Occupations Codes, Chapter 2301, Subchapter M, or Occupations Code, §2301.204.
(1) If it cannot be determined whether a complaint satisfies the requirements of Occupations Code, Chapter 2301, Subchapter M, or Occupations Code, §2301.204, the complainant will be contacted for additional information.
(2) If it is determined that the complaint does not meet the requirements of Occupations Code, Chapter 2301, Subchapter M, or Occupations Code, §2301.204, the complainant will be notified of this fact.
(3) If it is determined that the complaint does meet the requirements of Occupations Code, Chapter 2301, Subchapter M, or Occupations Code, §2301.204, the complaint will be processed in accordance with the procedures set forth in this subchapter.
(4) For purposes of Occupations Code, §2301.606, the commencement of a proceeding means the filing of a complaint with the division, and the date of filing is determined by the date of receipt by the division.
Upon receipt of a complaint for relief under the Occupations Code, Chapter 2301, Subchapter M, or §2301.204, notification thereof, with a copy of the complaint, will be given to the appropriate manufacturer, converter, or distributor, and a response to the complaint will be requested. A copy of the complaint and notification thereof will also be provided to the selling dealer and any other dealers that have been involved with the complaint and a response may be requested.
If, from a review of the complaint and the responses received from the manufacturer, converter, distributor, or dealer, it appears to the division staff that a settlement or resolution of the complaint may be possible without the necessity for a hearing, the division staff will attempt to effect a settlement or resolution of the complaint.
Complaints which satisfy the jurisdictional requirements of the Occupations Code, §2301.204 and §§2301.601-2301.613, will be set for hearing and notification of the date, time, and place of the hearing will be given to all parties by certified mail.
(1) Where possible, and subject to the availability of division personnel and funds, hearings will be held in the city where the complainant resides or at a location reasonably convenient to the complainant.
(3) Hearings will be conducted by division staff hearing officers or by independent hearing officers designated by the director.
(5) The parties have the right to be represented by attorneys at a hearing, although attorneys are not necessary. Any party who intends to be represented by an attorney at a hearing must notify the division and the other party at least five business days prior to the hearing and failure to do so will constitute grounds for postponement of the hearing if requested by the other party.
(6) The parties have the right to present their cases in full, including testimony from witnesses; documentary evidence such as repair orders, warranty documents, vehicle sales contract, etc., subject to the hearing officer’s rulings.
(10) The division may have the vehicle in question inspected prior to the hearing by an expert, where the opinion of such expert will be of assistance to the hearing officer and the director in arriving at a decision. Any such inspection shall be made upon prior notice to all parties who shall have the right to be present at such inspection, and copies of any findings or report resulting from such inspection will be provided to all parties prior to, or at, the hearing.
(12) All hearings will be conducted expeditiously. However, if a division hearing officer has not issued a decision within 150 days after the Occupations Code, §§2301.601-2301.613 complaint and filing-fee were received, division staff shall notify the parties by certified mail that complainant has a right to file a civil action in state district court to pursue rights under §§2301.601-2301.613. The 150-day period shall be extended upon request of the complainant or if a delay in the proceeding is caused by the complainant. The notice will inform the complainant of the right to elect to continue the lemon law complaint through the division.
(1) A hearing officer will prepare a written decision and final order as soon as possible but not later than 60 days after the hearing is closed, or as otherwise provided by law. The decision and order will include the hearing officer’s findings of fact and conclusions of law.
(4) A party who disagrees with the decision and final order may file a motion for rehearing within 20 days from the date of the notification of the final order. A motion for rehearing must include all the specific reasons, exceptions, or grounds that are asserted by a party as the basis of the request for a rehearing. It shall recite, if applicable, the specific findings of fact, conclusions of law, or any other portions of the decision to which the party objects. Replies to a motion for rehearing must be filed with the director within 30 days after the date of the notification of the final order. A party or attorney of record notified by mail is presumed to have been notified on the third day after the date on which the order was mailed.
(5) The director must act on the motion within 45 days after the date of notification of the final order, or as otherwise provided by law, or it is overruled by operation of law. The director may, by written order, extend the period for filing, replying to, and taking action on a motion for rehearing, not to exceed 90 days after the date of notification of the final order. In the event of an extension of time, the motion for rehearing is overruled by operation of law on the date fixed by the written order of extension, or in the absence of a fixed date, 90 days after the date of notification of the final order.
(6) If the director grants a motion for rehearing, the parties will be notified by first class mail. A rehearing will be scheduled as promptly as possible. After rehearing, the director shall issue a final order and any additional findings of fact or conclusions of law necessary to support the decision or order. The director may also issue an order granting the relief requested in a motion for rehearing or replies thereto without the need for a rehearing. If a motion for rehearing and the relief requested is denied, an order so stating will be issued.
(7) A party who has exhausted all administrative remedies, and who is aggrieved by a final decision in a contested case from which appeal may be taken is entitled to judicial review pursuant to Occupations Code, §§2301.751-2301.756, under the substantial evidence rule. The petition shall be filed in a district court of Travis County or in the Court of Appeals for the Third Court of Appeals District within 30 days after the decision or order is final and appealable. A copy of the petition must be served on the director and any other parties of record. After service of the petition on the director and within the time permitted for filing an answer, the director shall transmit to the reviewing court the original or a certified copy of the entire record of the proceeding. If the court orders new evidence to be presented to the director, the director or the director’s designee may modify the findings and decision or order by reason of the new evidence, and shall transmit the additional record to the court.
Unless otherwise indicated, this section applies to decisions made pursuant to Occupations Code, Chapter 2301, Subchapter M. Decisions shall give effect to the presumptions provided in Occupations Code, §2301.605, where applicable.
(1) If it is found that the manufacturer, distributor, or converter is not able to conform the vehicle to an applicable express warranty by repairing or correcting a defect in the complainant’s vehicle which creates a serious safety hazard or substantially impairs the use or market value of the vehicle after a reasonable number of attempts, and that the affirmative defenses provided under Occupations Code, §2301.606, are not applicable, the director shall order the manufacturer, distributor, or converter to replace the vehicle with a comparable vehicle, or accept the return of the vehicle from the owner and refund to the owner the full purchase price of the vehicle, less a reasonable allowance for the owner’s use of the vehicle.
(2) In any decision in favor of the complainant, the director will accommodate the complainant’s request with respect to replacement or repurchase of the vehicle, to the extent possible.
(4) There is a rebuttable presumption that a motor vehicle has a useful life of 120,000 miles. Except in cases where the preponderance of the evidence shows that the vehicle has a longer or shorter expected useful life than 120,000 miles, the reasonable allowance for the owner’s use of the vehicle shall be that amount obtained by adding subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph.
(B) 50% of the product obtained by multiplying the purchase price by a fraction having as its denominator 120,000 and having as its numerator the number of miles that the vehicle traveled after the first report of the defect or condition forming the basis of the repurchase order. The number of miles during the period covered in this paragraph shall be determined from the date of the first report of the defect or condition forming the basis of the repurchase order through the date of the hearing.
(5) There is a rebuttable presumption that the useful life of a towable recreational vehicle is 3,650 days (10 years). Except in cases where preponderance of the evidence shows that the vehicle has a longer or shorter expected useful life than 3,650 days (10 years), the reasonable allowance for the owner’s use of the towable recreational vehicle shall be that amount obtained by adding subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph.
(B) 50% of the product obtained by multiplying the purchase price by a fraction having as its denominator 3,650 days (10 years), except the denominator shall be 1,825 days (5 years), if the towable recreational vehicle is occupied on a full time basis, and having as its numerator the number of days of ownership after the first report of the defect or condition forming the basis of the repurchase order. The number of days during the period covered in this paragraph shall be determined from the date of the first report of the defect or condition forming the basis of the repurchase order through the date of the hearing.
(C) Any day or part of a day that the vehicle is out of service for repair will be deducted from the numerator in determining the reasonable allowance for use of a towable recreational vehicle in this paragraph.
(C) When the director orders a manufacturer, converter, or distributor to refund the purchase price in a lease vehicle transaction, the vehicle shall be returned to the manufacturer, converter, or distributor with clear title upon payment of the sums indicated in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph. The lessor shall transfer title of the vehicle to the manufacturer, converter, or distributor, as necessary in order to effectuate the lessee’s rights under this rule. In addition, the lease shall be terminated without any penalty to the lessee.
(D) Refunds shall be made to the lessee, lessor, and any lienholders as their interest may appear. The refund to the lessee under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be reduced by a reasonable allowance for the lessee’s use of the vehicle. A reasonable allowance for use shall be computed according to the formula in paragraph (4) or (5) of this section, using the amount in subparagraph (B) (i) of this paragraph as the applicable purchase price.
(7) In any award in favor of a complainant, the director may require the dealer involved to reimburse the complainant, manufacturer, converter, or distributor, for the cost of any items or options added to the vehicle but only to the extent that one or more of such items or options contributed to the defect that served as the basis for the order or repurchase or replacement. In no event shall this paragraph be interpreted to mean that a manufacturer, converter, or distributor, will be required to repurchase a vehicle due to a defect or condition that was solely caused by a dealer add-on item or option.
(8) If it is found by the director that a complainant’s vehicle does not qualify for replacement or repurchase, then the director shall enter an order dismissing the complaint insofar as relief under Occupations Code, §2301.604. However, the director may enter an order in any proceeding, where appropriate, requiring repair work to be performed or other action taken to obtain compliance with the manufacturer’s, converter’s, or distributor’s, warranty obligations.
(9) If the vehicle is substantially damaged or there is an adverse change in its condition, beyond ordinary wear and tear, from the date of the hearing to the date of repurchase, and the parties are unable to agree on an amount of an allowance for such damage or condition, either party shall have the right to request reconsideration by the director of the repurchase price contained in the final order.
(10) The director will issue a written order in each Occupations Code, Chapter 2301, Subchapter M or §2301.204 case in which a hearing is held and a copy of the order will be sent to all parties.
(c) In regards to the cost of items or accessories presented under subsection (a)(7) of this section, the hearing officer shall consider the permanent nature, functionality, and value added by the items or accessories and whether the items or accessories are original equipment manufacturer parts (OEM) or non-OEM parts.
Compliance with the director’s order will be monitored by the director.
(1) A complainant is not bound by the director’s decision and order and may either accept or reject the decision.
(2) If a complainant does not accept the director’s final decision, the proceeding before the director will be deemed concluded and the complaint file closed.
(3) If the complainant accepts the director’s decision, then the manufacturer, converter, or distributor and the dealer to the extent of the dealer’s responsibility, if any, shall immediately take such action as is necessary to implement the director’s decision and order.
(4) If a manufacturer, converter, or distributor replaces or repurchases a vehicle pursuant to a director order, reacquires a vehicle to settle a complaint filed under Occupations Code, Chapter 2301, Subchapter M or §2301.204, or brings a vehicle into the state of Texas which has been reacquired to resolve a warranty claim in another jurisdiction, the manufacturer, converter, or distributor shall, prior to resale of such vehicle, re-title the vehicle in Texas and issue a disclosure statement on a form provided by or approved by the director. In addition, the manufacturer, converter, or distributor reacquiring the vehicle shall affix a disclosure label provided by or approved by the director on an approved location in or on the vehicle. Both the disclosure statement and the disclosure label shall accompany the vehicle through the first retail purchase. Neither the manufacturer, converter, or distributor nor any person holding a license or general distinguishing number issued by the division under the Code or, Transportation Code, Chapter 503, shall remove or cause the removal of the disclosure label until delivery of the vehicle to the first retail purchaser. A manufacturer, converter, or distributor shall provide the director, in writing, the name, address, and telephone number of any transferee, regardless of residence, to whom the manufacturer, distributor, or converter, as the case may be, transfers the vehicle within 60 days of each transfer. The selling dealer shall return the completed disclosure statement to the director within 60 days of the retail sale of a reacquired vehicle. Any manufacturer, converter, or distributor or holder of a general distinguishing number who violates this section is liable for a civil penalty or other sanctions prescribed by the Code. In addition, the manufacturer, converter, or distributor must repair the defect or condition in the vehicle that resulted in the vehicle being reacquired and issue, at a minimum, a basic warranty (12 months/12,000 mile, whichever comes first), except for non-original equipment manufacturer items or accessories, on a form provided by or approved by the director, which warranty shall be provided to the first retail purchaser of the vehicle.
(6) The failure of any manufacturer, converter, distributor or dealer to comply with a decision and order of the director within the time period prescribed in the order may subject the manufacturer, converter, or distributor, or dealer to formal action by the division and the assessment of civil penalties or other sanctions prescribed by Occupations Code, Chapter 2301, for the failure to comply with an order of the director.

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