Savannah Lemon Law

All Georgia lemon-law arbitration applications go to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 40 Capitol Square SW, Atlanta, GA 30334. You can submit your application by mail or through the consumer.georgia.gov portal. Hearings are commonly scheduled by video conference, so Savannah consumers rarely need to travel to Atlanta. If you appeal the arbitrator's decision or file a separate civil action, the appropriate venue is Chatham County Superior Court at 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah, GA 31401, or U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia in Savannah for federal Magnuson-Moss claims.

Corrosion damage caused by normal coastal exposure is generally considered an environmental condition, not a manufacturing defect. However, premature corrosion of components that should be sealed or coated against marine environments - brake calipers binding within 12,000 miles, ABS sensor failures from inadequate harness sealing, exhaust system perforation inside warranty - can qualify as defects if the manufacturer's corrosion warranty applies and the failures recur after repair. Document each occurrence with photos of the rusted component, the repair order, and any service-bulletin references. Several manufacturers have issued coastal-specific TSBs that strengthen these claims.

Flood damage caused by exterior water intrusion is generally not a lemon law defect because the underlying cause is the flood, not a manufacturing nonconformity. Your remedy in that situation is comprehensive auto insurance, not the lemon law. However, if your vehicle develops electrical or HVAC defects from normal humidity exposure - not flood submersion - and the dealer cannot repair after three documented attempts, that is a covered defect. The distinction matters: arbitrators will scrutinize whether the failure stems from a manufacturing or design defect versus exterior environmental damage.

Once your application is accepted as complete, the AG's office typically schedules a hearing within roughly 40 to 60 days and issues a written decision within ten days of the hearing. Many Savannah hearings are conducted by video conference, eliminating the four-hour drive to Atlanta. Compared with full civil litigation in Chatham County Superior Court, arbitration is dramatically faster, avoids advance court filing fees, and preserves your right to appeal. Manufacturer attorneys appear at arbitration, so bring all repair orders, your certified-mail written notice, and any service-bulletin documentation.

They are increasingly visible because of the Hyundai Metaplant in Bryan County and the brands' aggressive coastal Georgia market share. Common Savannah-area Hyundai and Kia complaints involve Theta II engine bearing failures, dual-clutch transmission shudder on certain Veloster and Forte models, and infotainment lockups. All Hyundai and Kia vehicles sold or leased new in Georgia are covered under the Georgia lemon law on the same terms as any other manufacturer - 24 months or 24,000 miles, three repair attempts or 30 cumulative days out of service, mandatory AG arbitration before suit.

Yes. Georgia's lemon law is statewide, so any consumer in Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, or Liberty County who purchased or leased a new vehicle in Georgia and uses it primarily for personal, family, or household purposes has the same rights regardless of municipality. You file your arbitration application with the AG's office in Atlanta, and any subsequent civil action is filed in the county of the manufacturer's registered agent or under Georgia's general venue rules. Living on Tybee or in Pooler does not affect your eligibility or remedies.

A successful Georgia refund includes the full purchase price plus the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) you paid to the Chatham County Tag Office, title and registration fees, and finance charges. The refund is reduced by a mileage offset equal to the miles driven before your first repair visit for the qualifying defect, multiplied by the purchase price, divided by 120,000. Arbitrators may also award attorney's fees and expert witness costs to prevailing consumers. If you take a replacement vehicle, the manufacturer must provide a comparable new vehicle and coordinate TAVT transfer with the Georgia Department of Revenue.