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The basics of Philippine Lemon Law

Autodeal on Jun 23, 2016

Did you know that the Republic Act No. 10642 or the Philippine Lemon
Law which took effect in 2014 can protect your consumer rights against some
car dealers’ trade malpractices? In order to help enlighten you of its basics,
here are 10 FAQs (frequently-asked questions) that we compiled.

What is a lemon car?

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 from an authorized dealer in the country. 

What vehicles are covered by the Law?

It scopes a wide range of vehicle types such as passenger cars, crossovers,

SUVs, pickups, vans, and AUVs. It, however, excludes motorcycles, buses,
delivery trucks, dump trucks, and heavy equipment like bulldozers and cranes.

How long is the law’s effectivity?

Consumers are protected by the law up to 12 months after purchase or within

the vehicle’s first 20,000 km of total distance traveled, whichever comes first.
The time period may be short, but on the bright side, most car manufacturers
these days offer warranty benefits and free preventive maintenance services
(PMS) for up to 3 years or more which may help in resolving potential factory
defects.

What kind of defects does the law acknowledge?

Any factory defects found in and around the brand new unit that don’t meet the

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 assessing the unit for defects, the dealer should take action and resolve the
issue.

When and how can the consumer avail his/her rights under the law?

The consumer may request (in writing) the dealer to have the defective unit
fixed within the 12-month time period for at least 4 attempts. This, however,
comes with an agreement that the consumer must return the unit within 30
days from the previous repair attempt, should the issue still persist. If
unreturned within 30 days, the previous repair may be considered as
successful.

If the dealer didn’t resolve the issue beyond 4 attempts or if the issue persists
after several repairs, the consumer may then issue a Notice of Availment of
Lemon Law Rights to the dealer. If both parties agree with the notice, the
consumer shall then return the unit for a final repair attempt. If the dealer still
fails to resolve the issue, the consumer can bring the case up to the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for assistance.

Are there any issues that go beyond the law’s protection?

Yes. These issues include; non-compliance to the warranty terms and

conditions, unit modifications within the warranty period, and careless use of
the unit. Damages caused by accidents or acts of nature like flash floods and
earthquakes are likewise not honored.

This aspect of the law is important so as to protect the honest dealers’ rights
against some consumers who may have wrongful intentions that would damage
credibility and reputation.

Is there any compensation for the customer during repair of the unit or
availment of Lemon Law rights?

Yes. During the period of unit repair or availment of Lemon Law rights, the

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 If ever the DTI deemed the issue in favor of the consumer, he or she can
request the dealer to replace the unit with a similar model or a vehicle of higher
value. Should the consumer choose to have a more expensive model, he or she
has to pay the additional cost. On the other hand, the consumer may return the
defective unit and demand a full refund with collateral damage pay. 

What if the DTI rules in favor of the dealer?

If it’s proven that there's no defect on the unit, the DTI will order the consumer
to pay or reimburse the total amount that’s spent by the dealer in repairing the
otherwise non-defective unit.

Can the consumer or dealer make an appeal?

Yes. Both parties can seek help from the DTI in appealing the case within 15
days after the decision has been made. This, of course, has a few grounds to
meet, most especially with regard to the possible factual errors in the decision-
making.

What will happen to the non-defective unit if returned or replaced?

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 The dealer may resell it, provided that the new buyer is given full
documentation of the unit’s history. Not doing so may result to the dealer
paying P100,000 in damages to the new buyer.

These are 10 of the basic questions that we hope will help you in better
understanding the Philippine Lemon Law. Not only does it protect your rights as
a car buyer, it also protects the rights of those honest car dealers. For a more
in-depth look at the Lemon Law, check out the Official Gazette of the Republic
of the Philippines.

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philippine , lemon , law

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