2. AFTER A REPAIR IS COMPLETED AND YOU PICK UP YOUR CAR, do not leave without a repair order with accurate information.
a) Make sure ALL the problems you complained of are on the repair order. This is your proof that you told them about it. Do not let the service person say something like, "Well, we did not find anything wrong so we did not put it down." Make them write the complaint on the repair order then, if they want, they can write "NPF" - No Problem Found. But you need proof that you complained about it because this will count as a repair attempt if it's on the repair order - even if there is NPF.
b) Make sure the dates out of service are accurate. One dealer trick is to show fewer days than the dealer actually had the car so it's harder for you to reach the magic number of 30 days. (See Lemon Law FAQ, "How many times do I have to give the dealer a chance to fix my vehicle?")
3. TAKE WRITTEN NOTES of all conversations you have with your dealership and repair technicians concerning your vehicle and its “lemon” potential. Include the date, time and what specifically was discussed. This includes phone calls and in-person contacts. Note the days the vehicle was out of service.
4. ASK ABOUT TSB’s, or Technical Service Bulletins, which are instructions from the manufacturer that alert dealerships of specific defects or necessary repairs in certain models. If you don’t ask, your dealer might not present you with this information, so speak up and ask your technician to write your request on the repair order.
5. PREPARE A TIMELINE if you have several repair orders in your possession, organize each repair attempt by date, the number of times the vehicle has been in the shop, and how many days total your vehicle has been out of service.
6. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED by your dealer, repair technicians, or others who might tell you the problems you are experiencing with your vehicle are minor and that you do not qualify under the lemon law for any sort of relief. ONLY AN ATTORNEY who is licensed to practice law in the state where you purchased your vehicle and has some familiarity with the lemon law, can make that determination!