What can I do if I purchased a used car and have a lot of problems with it? Are there any consumer protection laws?

The federal government and most states have what are known as “lemon laws,” although the actual name of the law will vary from state to state. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is the federal law covering all states. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act does provide recovery for faulty used cars in some situations while the applicable state law may or may not. Generally, if the used car still had a manufacturer’s warranty from the initial purchase, you purchased an extended manufacturer’s warranty, or the car was a certified pre-owned vehicle, the federal lemon law and some states will provide recovery. If the used car dealer knew she was selling you a car with problems, but didn’t disclose the problems, you may have remedies under state consumer protection laws outside of the lemon laws.