Illinois Lemon Law Sec. one.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act. (Source: P.A. 85-1350.) (815 ILCS 380/2)
Illinois Lemon Law Sec. two.
Definitions.
For the purposes of this Act, the following words have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section.
1. "Consumer" means an individual who purchases or leases for a period of at least year a new vehicle from the seller for the purposes of transporting himself and others, as well as their personal property, for primarily personal, household or relatives purposes.
2. "Express warranty" has the same meaning, for the purposes of this Act, as it's for the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code.
3. "New vehicle" means a passenger automobile, as defined in Section 1-157 of The Illinois Vehicle Code, a motor vehicle of the Second Division having a weight of under 8,000 pounds, as defined in Section 1-146 of that Code, as well as a recreational vehicle, except for a camping trailer or travel trailer that does not qualify under the definition of a used motor vehicle, as set forth in Section 1-216 of that Code.
4. "Nonconformity" refers to a new vehicle's failure to conform to all express warranties applicable to such vehicle, which failure substantially impairs the use, market value or safety of that vehicle.
5. "Seller" means the manufacturer of a new vehicle, that manufacturer's agent or distributor or that manufacturer's authorized dealer. "Seller" also means, with respect to a new vehicle which is as well as a modified vehicle, as defined in Section 1-144.1 of The Illinois Vehicle Code, as now or hereafter amended, the that modified the vehicle and that person's agent or distributor or that person's authorized dealer. "Seller" also means, with respect to leased new vehicles, the manufacturer, that manufacturer's agent or distributor or that manufacturer's dealer, who transfers the right to possession and use of goods under a lease.
6. "Statutory warranty period" means the period of year or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first after the date of the delivery of a new vehicle to the consumer who bought or leased it.
7. "Lease cost" includes deposits, fees, taxes, down payments, periodic payments, and any other amount paid to a seller by a consumer in connection with the lease of a new vehicle. (Source: P.A. 89-375, eff. 8-18-95.) (815 ILCS 380/3)
Illinois Lemon Law Sec. three.
Failure of vehicle to conform; remedies; presumptions.
1. If after a reasonable number of attempts the seller is unable to conform the new vehicle to any of its applicable express warranties, the manufacturer shall either provide the consumer with a brand spanking new vehicle of like model line, if available, or otherwise a comparable motor vehicle as a replacement, or accept the return of the vehicle from the consumer and refund to the consumer the full purchase cost or lease cost of the new vehicle, including all collateral charges, less a reasonable allowance for consumer use of the vehicle. For purposes of this Section, "collateral charges" does not include taxes paid by the purchaser on the preliminary purchase of the new vehicle. The retailer who initially sold the vehicle may file a claim for credit for taxes paid pursuant to the terms of Sections 6, 6a, 6b, and 6c of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Ought to the vehicle be converted, modified or altered in a way other than the manufacturer's original design, the party which performed the conversion or modification shall be liable under the provisions of this Act, provided the part or parts causing the vehicle not to perform according to its warranty were altered or modified.
2. A presumption that a reasonable number of attempts have been undertaken to conform a brand spanking new vehicle to its express warranties shall arise where, within the statutory warranty period, (one) the same nonconformity has been subject to repair by the seller, its agents or authorized dealers in the work of the statutory warranty period, four or more times, and such nonconformity continues to exist; or (two) the vehicle has been out of service by reason of repair of nonconformities for a total of 30 or more business days in the work of the statutory warranty period.
3. A reasonable allowance for consumer use of a vehicle is that amount directly attributable to the wear and tear incurred by the new vehicle because of its having been used prior to the first document of a nonconformity to the seller, and in the work of any later period in which it is not out of service by reason of repair.
4. The fact that a brand spanking new vehicle's failure to conform to an express warranty is the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modifications or alterations is an affirmative defense to claims brought under this Act.
5. The statutory warranty period of a brand spanking new vehicle shall be suspended for any timeframe in the work of which repair services are not available to the consumer because of a war, invasion or strike, or a fire, floodwater or other natural catastrophe.
6. Refunds made pursuant to this Act shall be made to the consumer, and lien holder if any exists, as their respective interests appear.
7. For the purposes of this Act, a manufacturer sells a brand spanking new vehicle to a consumer when they provides that consumer with a replacement vehicle pursuant to subsection (a).
8. In no event shall the presumption herein provided apply against a manufacturer, his agent, distributor or dealer unless the manufacturer has received prior direct written notification from or on behalf of the consumer, and has a chance to correct the alleged defect. (Source: P.A. 89-359, eff. 8-17-95; 89-375, eff. 8-18-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.) (815 ILCS 380/4)
Illinois Lemon Law Sec. four.
1. The provisions of subsection (a) of Section three shall not apply unless the consumer has first resorted to an casual settlement procedure applicable to disputes to which that subsection would apply where
1. The manufacturer of the new vehicle has established such a procedure;
2. The procedure conforms: (i) substantially with the provisions of Title 16, Code of Federal Regulation, Part 703, as from time to time amended, & (ii) to the requirements of subsection (c); &
3. The consumer has received from the seller adequate written notice of the existence of the procedure. Adequate written notice includes but is not limited to the incorporation of the casual dispute settlement procedure in to the terms of the written warranty to which the vehicle does not conform.
2. If the consumer is dissatisfied with the decision reached in an casual dispute settlement procedure or the results of such a call, he may bring a civil action to enforce his rights under subsection (a) of Section three. The decision reached in the casual dispute settlement procedure is admissible in such a civil action. The period of limitations for a civil action to enforce a consumer's rights or treatments under subsection (a) of Section three shall be extended for a period equal to the number of days the subject material of the civil action was pending in the casual dispute settlement procedure.
3. A disclosure of the decision in an casual dispute settlement procedure shall include notice to the consumer of the provisions of subsection (b). (Source: P.A. 85-1350.) (815 ILCS 380/5)
California Lemon Law Sec. five.
Persons electing to proceed & settle under this Act shall be barred from a separate cause of action under the Uniform Commercial Code. (Source: P.A. 85-1350.) (815 ILCS 380/6)
California Lemon Law Sec. 6.
Any action brought under this Act shall be commenced within eighteen months following the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to the consumer. (Source: P.A. 83-768.) (815 ILCS 380/7)
California Lemon Law Sec. 7.
The seller who sells a used vehicle to a consumer, shall, on delivery of that vehicle to the consumer, provide the consumer with a written statement clearly & conspicuously setting forth in full detail the consumer's rights under subsection (a) of Section three, & the presumptions created by subsection (b) of that Section. (Source: P.A. 85-1350.) (815 ILCS 380/8)
California Lemon Law Sec. 8.
This Act shall apply to motor vehicles beginning with the model year following the effective date of this Act. (Source: P.A. 83-768.)