Documenting Evidence for a Missouri Lemon Law Claim

Documentation is the foundation of every Missouri Lemon Law case. With the 1-year Rights Period running fast, every visit must produce a documented repair order.

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.
• Technician findings and work performed.
• Parts replaced.
• Authorized dealer name.
• VIN.

Insist on receiving a printed RO at every visit.

2. OOS day tracking — working days

For the 30-working-day threshold, track every day the vehicle is at the dealer EXCLUDING weekends and holidays:

RO#	Drop-off	Pickup	Working Days OOS	Reason
12345	Mon 6/2	Fri 6/6	5	Transmission diagnosis
12678	Mon 7/14	Fri 8/15	25	Waiting parts

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 Auto Line filings if any.

4. Manufacturer customer-relations case file

Manufacturers open a customer-relations case when you escalate. Demand a written case summary.

For home-state defendants (Ford Claycomo, GM Wentzville), discovery can compel internal case-file production.

5. MMPA-specific documentation (post-SB 591)

Post-2020 SB 591 MMPA requires ascertainable loss specificity. Document:

• Purchase price — sale receipt.
• Sales tax + registration — MO DOR documents.
• Finance charges — loan statements showing interest paid.
• Repair costs — out-of-warranty repair receipts.
• Diminished value — appraisal or expert valuation.
• Cost of substitute transportation — rental receipts.
• Lost wages — employer letters / pay stubs for repair-day absences.

6. Photos and video

• Defect manifestation (dashboard lights, fluid leaks, paint defects).
• Repair-shop intake photos.
• Driving-condition video.

7. Diagnostic data

For Tesla / EV cases, request the diagnostic logs.

Common documentation mistakes

• Going to independent mechanics — repairs don’t count toward Lemon Law thresholds.
• Vague RO descriptions — describe symptoms specifically.
• No printed RO — demand one anyway.
• Inconsistent complaint language — describe the same symptom the same way at each visit.
• Counting calendar days for OOS — Missouri uses working days; exclude weekends.

Missouri-specific considerations

• Tornado / hail damage — be ready to distinguish defect from weather (Tornado Alley exposure).
• Multi-county travel — Missouri plaintiffs may visit dealers in different counties; any authorized dealer counts.
• Ford Claycomo plant proximity (KC metro) — F-150, Transit, Maverick owners often visit dealers near the plant.

Bottom line

The repair orders and OOS day tracking ARE the case. Missouri’s working-day OOS counting (more generous than calendar-day) means careful tracking pays off. Document ascertainable loss specifically for MMPA post-SB 591.

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