Q: I bought a car — a lemon — three years ago and have had problems ever since. How can I find out who is the manager of the dealership? Where can I complain for help? I’ve tried several places without any luck.— Solomon Henry, Denver
A: It’s always best to try speaking with the dealership first. Since you’re moving toward a formal complaint, I can only guess that you’ve tried this and gotten no satisfaction.
Colorado’s Lemon Law covers only new vehicles, and you don’t indicate whether you purchased new or used.
If new, the Lemon Law applies if a vehicle has had the same repair four or more times in the first year after purchase. It also applies if the car has been out of service a total of 30 or more business days in the same period because of the problems.
You must give the manufacturer and dealer a chance to fix the problem. Otherwise you’ll have to sue, unless the manufacturer has an informal dispute resolution, which you’d have to pursue first.
If the car is used, the next best remedy after chatting with the dealer is filing a complaint with the Auto Industry Division of the Colorado Department of Revenue.
However, not every consumer complaint is best handled by the division, largely because only violations of Colorado law are within its jurisdiction. And the state can’t require a dealer to honor a verbal agreement.
Nevertheless, if you feel your issue falls within the guidelines, contact the division at 303-205-5746, or visit its website for consumer information at www.revenue.state.co.us, then click on “Auto Industry” on the left panel and “Complaint Process” in the middle panel of the subsequent page.
David Migoya wants to get the answers to your consumer questions. E-mail consumertips@denverpost.com or write to Consumer Shopping Bag, The Denver Post, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202.
