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Owners of new and used cars must meet three qualifications to be protected by New York s lemon law:

• The vehicle must have been purchased with a warranty.
• The vehicle must have been purchased specifically for personal use. Business vehicles or those purchased with the intent of resale do not qualify for protection.
• The owner must participate in a dealer or manufacturer arbitration program if it s available, prior to pursuing a lawsuit.

A new car is any vehicle sold with less than 18,000 miles or within two years of original delivery, whichever comes first. All other cars are considered used under the law.

The manufacturer of a new car sold in New York is required to repair any defect that s covered by the warranty, as long as the defect occurs -- and is reported by the owner -- within the first 18,000 miles or two years, whichever comes first. Defects include problems such as stalling, trouble starting the car, transmission issues and other conditions that occur due to faulty parts. Owners must report such issues to the dealership immediately. The dealer will contact the manufacturer and make arrangements to fix the problem free of charge.

The dealer must begin repairs within seven days of receiving notice. If, after four attempts to correct the issue, the car is still defective, the dealer must either refund the purchase price, title and registration fees or offer a replacement car. If your car has more than 12,000 miles on the odometer, the dealer may take a deduction from the refund to compensate for mileage.