Documenting Evidence for a Connecticut Lemon Law Claim

Documentation is the foundation of every Connecticut Lemon Law case. The DCP arbitrators and Connecticut courts decide cases primarily on the paper trail.

What to document

1. Repair orders (the most important documents)

Every visit to the manufacturer-authorized service facility must produce a written repair order (RO). Each RO must contain:

• Date of vehicle drop-off and pickup.
• Mileage at drop-off and pickup.
• Customer complaint in your own words (the “C/M” line). Be specific.
• Technician findings and work performed.
• Parts replaced.
• Authorized dealer name.
• VIN.

Insist on receiving a printed RO at every visit, even for diagnostic-only or no-trouble-found visits. The RO is the only proof an attempt occurred.

2. OOS day tracking

For the 30-day threshold, track every day the vehicle is at the dealer:

RO#	Drop-off	Pickup	OOS Days	Reason
12345	6/1	6/5	4	Transmission diagnosis
12678	6/15	7/12	27	Waiting parts

Use a simple spreadsheet. Loaner-car receipts and rental agreements corroborate.

3. Written communications

Save copies of:

• Email correspondence with dealer service manager.
• Text messages with service advisor.
• Letters to/from manufacturer’s customer relations.
• BBB / DCP filings if any.

4. Manufacturer customer-relations case file

Manufacturers (Tesla, Ford, GM, Stellantis, BMW, etc.) open a customer-relations case when you escalate. Demand a written case summary including:

• Case number.
• Date opened.
• Issue description.
• Manufacturer position.

5. Photos and video

• Defect manifestation (dashboard lights, fluid leaks, paint defects).
• Repair-shop intake photos.
• Driving-condition video (transmission shifts, brake feel, electrical glitches).

6. Diagnostic data

For Tesla / EV cases, request the diagnostic logs. Most manufacturers maintain telematics records:

• Tesla: request via in-app or service request.
• GM OnStar: diagnostic reports.
• Ford SYNC: vehicle health reports.

Common documentation mistakes

• Going to independent mechanics — repairs don’t count toward Lemon Law thresholds.
• Vague RO descriptions — “check engine light on” is too generic; describe symptoms.
• No printed RO — some dealers issue verbal “no trouble found” findings without paperwork. Demand one anyway.
• Inconsistent complaint language — describe the same symptom the same way at each visit to establish “same nonconformity” under § 42-179(d).

Bottom line

The repair orders and OOS day tracking ARE the case. Without consistent, well-documented ROs, even a strong factual defect case can fail. Get a printed RO every visit, and keep them all.

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