Am I covered by the UDAP laws regarding a used car purchase?
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Am I covered by the UDAP laws regarding a used car purchase?
I bought a used car about 2 months ago. While checking the engine, I noticed that there was radiator fluid on the underside of the hood. I asked the salesman why it was there and he told me that while the engine was hot; that he himself had taken off the radiator cap to check for oil in the radiator and it had spit coolant up onto the hood. I asked him if he was sure about it and he said yes, but that if there was a problem within the next 2 weeks that he would replace the radiator. Well here it is 2 months later, the weather is warming, and I have a cracked radiator.
Asked on April 9, 2011 under General Practice, Washington
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
There are lemon laws and there are unfair and deceptive practices act laws. Every state is different. As a rule of thumb, most states do not have an ideal law on lemon laws for used cars but most dealers by law have to have a limited warranty on the car anyway. 2 months may not be the amount of time they have to warranty a used car but in Washington State if you are an owner of a vehicle that was purchased by the original owner two years before and within the first 24,000 miles, the lemon law will most likely still apply to you. So start with your attorney general first. UDAP usually covers the sale itself and the unfair and deceptive acts of individuals who conducted the sale. Generally the sale of used vehicles are "as is" and you probably signed something to that effect. If you did, you might be out of luck because you should have taken the vehicle to your own mechanic for a look over before you purchased it. Still contact your attorney general; that agency's arbitration program is usually free and could be beneficial to you if it can help you obtain a refund in exchange for return of the vehicle.
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