Engine Defects in NC Lemon Law Cases
Engine defects qualify for NC Lemon Law refund under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-351.2.
Engine defects routinely satisfy NC’s substantial-impairment test under § 20-351.2(5).
Common engine defect categories
Intermittent stalling
Safety-critical. Strong UDTPA exposure with mandatory § 75-16 trebling.
Misfires
Rough idle, hesitation under load.
Excessive oil consumption
Common in Subaru FB-series, Honda 1.5L turbo, BMW N20. See Subaru and Honda.
Head-gasket failures
Common in Subaru EJ-series and Hyundai/Kia engines.
Theta II engine failures (Hyundai/Kia)
Timing-chain stretch / failure
BMW N20, Audi 2.0T, Ford EcoBoost.
Engine fires
Per NC’s substantial-impairment test, fire risk substantially impairs value. Strong UDTPA exposure.
UDTPA willfulness exposure
TSBs and recalls support UDTPA violation — and § 75-16 trebles automatically without willfulness, while § 75-16.1 attorney fees require willfulness + unwarranted refusal.
What you should do
- Pull every repair order.
- Document oil-consumption test results.
- Save TSBs and recall notices.
- Send certified-mail notice to manufacturer.
- Get a free case review.
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Read →Think you've got a lemon?
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