Under Maryland's Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act (the state's "Lemon Law," found at Commercial Law Article §§ 14-1501 to 14-1504), a manufacturer must repair, replace, or buy back a defective new vehicle if a substantial defect is reported during the first 24 months after delivery or the first 18,000 miles of operation, whichever comes first. Maryland presumes the manufacturer has had a fair chance to fix the problem once the same defect has been subject to repair four or more times, or the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a cumulative 30 or more days. For a serious braking or steering defect likely to cause death or serious injury, just one unsuccessful repair attempt can trigger your rights. These figures are specific to Maryland and are more generous than the 12-month/12,000-mile windows used in many other states.
Which vehicles and defects qualify
Maryland's Lemon Law applies to new passenger cars, station wagons, light trucks, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and motorcycles that are bought or leased and registered in Maryland. Both purchasers and lessees are protected. The law does not cover used vehicles (sold without a new-vehicle warranty), and it generally excludes large commercial trucks above certain weight limits.
To qualify, the problem must be a "nonconformity" — a defect or condition that substantially impairs the use and market value of the vehicle and is covered by the manufacturer's express warranty. Minor annoyances, cosmetic blemishes, or problems caused by your own abuse, neglect, accident, or unauthorized modifications do not count. The defect must also first be reported to the manufacturer, its agent, or an authorized dealer during the 24-month/18,000-mile warranty period — even if the actual repair attempts or buyback dispute continue past that point.
How the repair-attempt and out-of-service rules work
Maryland law creates a legal presumption that you have given the manufacturer a reasonable number of attempts to fix the vehicle when any of the following happens within the warranty period:
- The same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer or its dealers, and the defect still exists; or
- The vehicle has been out of service for repair of one or more nonconformities for a cumulative total of 30 or more days; or
- A defect of the braking or steering system that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury has been subject to repair at least once and continues to exist.
Hitting one of these thresholds does not automatically end your claim — it shifts the playing field in your favor by establishing that the manufacturer had enough chances. Keep every repair order, work invoice, and rental receipt. Each visit should show the date in, the date out, the mileage, and a written description of the complaint, because those documents are how you prove the four attempts or 30 days.
The written-notice requirement
Before you can demand a refund or replacement, Maryland requires you to put the manufacturer on notice. After the qualifying repair attempts, you must notify the manufacturer in writing, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the unresolved defect and give the manufacturer a final opportunity to correct it. Send the notice to the address the manufacturer designates (often listed in your owner's manual or warranty booklet), and keep a copy plus the certified-mail receipt. This step is easy to overlook but is essential — skipping it can derail an otherwise valid claim.
Your remedy: refund or replacement
If the vehicle still cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must, at your option, either replace the vehicle with a comparable new one acceptable to you, or refund the full purchase price. The refund includes the price paid, plus all license fees, registration fees, taxes, and similar government charges — not just the sticker price.