When you buy a car, especially one that’s new, you expect it to work properly, especially if a car is under warranty. When you’re convinced there’s something wrong with your car but the dealer’s repair shop can’t find anything wrong or says that what you’re experiencing is normal what should you do? You want to be taken seriously and have your car looked at to see if what you say is a problem can actually be diagnosed as a problem in your mind. The trouble is there are many ways to look at what could potentially be a problem with your car, even when it’s something that isn’t or shouldn’t be normal.

The trouble is you might have a lemon on your hands and you need to have the problem your car has listed as a defect but dealer can have a hard time working with you. This is where the lemon law comes into play when dealing with your vehicle and you first have to find a way to identify and have listed the defect you feel is part of what you’re experiencing with your vehicle. Here’s what you should do when your car has a problem and the dealer isn’t acknowledging that problem.

What is a defect? A defect is something that limits the use of the vehicle or the value of the vehicle. This is the case in nearly every state in the country with some states broadening that language, but the reality is a noise that doesn’t seem right, a hard shifting transmission or items that don’t function the way they should would easily impair the value of the vehicle.

One of the first things you can do is check the NHTSA website to see if there is a technical service bulletin for your vehicle. If there is one present, you should take this to the dealership with you, they might not be up to speed regarding the defects of the vehicle you have. Another option is to take the vehicle to another dealership and see if they will fix it or if they can find the same defects you’re talking about.

Another piece of advice is to have every visit you make to a dealership documented. Even if the dealership doesn’t do any work on the vehicle, you should have them document and give you copies of every single visit you make to the dealer to have the car worked on. This will help you when you have to start filing your car and having it listed as a lemon under the lemon laws of your state. Every repair order needs to be written up and it’s to document the fact you brought in the vehicle for a repair and the complaint you have for your vehicle.

Check out this video and learn more about how you can have your vehicle handled properly under the lemon laws of your state so that you can be protected and have repairs done to your satisfaction.