Engine Defects in Virginia Lemon Law Cases
Engine defects qualify for Virginia Lemon Law refund under Va. Code § 59.1-207.11. Serious safety engine defects can trigger the single-attempt rule under § 59.1-207.13(B)(2).
Engine defects routinely satisfy Virginia’s significant-impairment test under § 59.1-207.11, and serious engine defects can trigger the single-attempt rule under § 59.1-207.13(B)(2).
Common engine defect categories
Intermittent stalling
Safety-critical — typically qualifies as a serious safety defect, triggering the single-attempt rule. Strong VCPA willfulness exposure.
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
Risk of fire makes this a per-se serious safety defect — single attempt suffices under § 59.1-207.13(B)(2).
VCPA willfulness exposure
TSBs and recalls support VCPA willful violation findings and discretionary treble damages.
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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