Cousins Law FirmCousins Law Firm2026-07-20T12:46:02Zhttps://www.cousinslawfirm.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1303984/2025/01/cropped-Cousins-Law-site-icon-32x32.pngOn Behalf of Cousins Law Firm<![CDATA[Parts on backorder: Can you file a Lemon Law claim if your car is just sitting there?]]>https://www.cousinslawfirm.com/?p=468632026-07-20T12:46:02Z2026-07-20T12:46:02ZHow Florida tracks repair time limits
Florida law provides a specific timeline for resolving warranty defects. If a new or leased vehicle spends 30 or more cumulative days out of service for repair, it meets the statutory definition of a lemon. This timeline need not be consecutive. You might take the car in for one week, get it back, and then return it for another three weeks while the service department waits for a transmission to arrive. Every day at the dealership counts. The law places the burden of these delays on the automaker.
Why supply chain shortages offer no legal protection
Dealership service departments tell customers they cannot proceed until a component ships. While the local mechanic might wait on a delivery, state law views the manufacturer and its authorized dealers as one entity responsible for honoring the warranty. A parts shortage remains the manufacturer's problem.
The statute grants no extensions for delayed microchips or sensors. Once the 30-day threshold passes, provided you gave the required statutory written notice and final repair opportunity, the manufacturer's obligation may shift from attempting a repair to offering a replacement or a refund. You must maintain specific records to hold the automaker accountable.
Building a record while your car sits
A successful claim relies on clear evidence of how long the dealership held the vehicle. To protect your rights, you should gather and organize specific documentation.
Repair orders: Request a written document showing the exact date you dropped off the car.
Status updates: Save all emails or text messages where the service advisor mentions waiting for backordered components.
Invoices: Verify that the final paperwork reflects the true date you picked up the vehicle, not just the date the mechanic finished the work.
These records form the basis of your demand for a functioning vehicle.
What this timeline means for vehicle owners
You do not have to accept indefinite delays and monthly car payments for a vehicle trapped in a service bay. The law requires manufacturers to provide a working product or buy it back. If your vehicle sits out of service for weeks, you may qualify for a buyback. An attorney can evaluate your repair invoices and help you hold the manufacturer accountable.]]>On Behalf of Cousins Law Firm<![CDATA[When an EV’s software glitch makes it a lemon]]>https://www.cousinslawfirm.com/?p=468602026-04-20T13:15:24Z2026-04-18T18:52:05ZSoftware issues can result in the main screen interface in the dashboard blacking out indefinitely. Companies may promise customers that they simply need to wait for a firmware update, but the necessary software patch may not yet be available. If the issue persists for long enough, the vehicle may rightfully be classified as a lemon.
An EV's screen is more than infotainment
Built-in vehicle screens are now key for proper vehicle management. The electronic dashboard display in an EV may be how drivers can monitor their speed and fuel levels. Additionally, they are how drivers can check their backup cameras to ensure their safety before maneuvering.
As such, software issues that prevent the dashboard screen from functioning are actually safety-critical defects. If manufacturers or dealerships cannot repair the defect promptly, then the owner may have the right to pursue a lemon law claim.
A lemon is any vehicle with safety-critical defects that the dealership or manufacturer cannot repair promptly. Under Florida law, if a vehicle is out of service for 15 days or more due to defects, including software glitches, the vehicle may constitute a lemon. Three unsuccessful repair attempts can also make a vehicle a lemon.
If the software patch to correct the screen issues is not immediately available, drivers may potentially go weeks without a safe and usable vehicle. A lemon law claim can allow for the return of the defective vehicle and a refund of the full purchase price so that buyers can acquire different vehicles that they can safely operate.
Reporting software issues to the dealership and discussing the manufacturer’s inability to promptly resolve the issue with a lemon law attorney can help frustrated EV buyers assert their legal rights. If an EV does not have functional software and safety systems, drivers may need to invoke their protections under lemon laws.]]>