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Dallas, Texas Lemon Law

Lemon Law Lawyers in Dallas, Texas

At RockPoint Law, lemon law is our core practice. We help Dallas drivers when the same fault code keeps coming back, the transmission still hunts for gears on I-635, and four trips to the dealer fix nothing.

Free Case Evaluation

Three quick questions. No cost, no obligation.

  1. The year and make of your vehicle
  2. What the dealer has already tried
  3. How to reach you, and we review it
Start My Free Case Review  Call (214) 443-4837

Sending this does not create an attorney-client relationship. A case evaluation is a first step, not legal representation.

Texas gives you a real remedy for that, and it runs through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles rather than the Dallas County courthouse. Hearings are set near where you live, Carrollton and Fort Worth among the sites, and our office is downtown on North Saint Paul Street if you'd rather sit down with us.

  • Dallas office downtown
  • Dallas County and DFW coverage
  • No fee unless we recover

Our Texas attorney: Aaron K. Waldo, Texas Bar No. 24107954, licensed in Texas since 2018.

Key facts

Dallas lemon law at a glance

What a Dallas claim runs into, step by step, from the day the defect shows up to the day an order is signed, and where each rule is written down.

Key facts for a Dallas lemon law claim under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2301
Key figureWhat it meansWhere it comes from
24 monthsor 24,000 milesThe defect has to appear inside this window, counted from the day the vehicle was delivered to you. A Dallas commute on US-75 or I-635 can close it on the miles first.Sec. 2301.605(a)
4, 2 or 30repairs, safety repairs, daysFour repairs of the same defect, two for a serious safety hazard, or a cumulative total of 30 or more days out of service for repair. Any one is enough.Sec. 2301.605(a)(1)-(3)
Loaner daysdon't countDays the manufacturer or distributor lent you a comparable vehicle while a franchised dealer had yours come off the 30-day count.Sec. 2301.605(c)
Certifiednotice to the makerThe manufacturer, not your Dallas dealer, has to get written notice and a chance to cure before TxDMV can order a refund or replacement.Sec. 2301.606(c)
6 monthsto fileThe complaint is due within six months of the earliest of the warranty expiring, 24 months, or 24,000 miles from delivery.Sec. 2301.606(d)
$35TxDMV filing feePaid when you file. It comes back to you if the vehicle is found to be a lemon, and TxDMV's repurchase worksheet carries a line for it.Sec. 2301.712
Carrolltonor Fort WorthHearings are set in or near your city of residence. Carrollton and Fort Worth are among the seven main sites TxDMV lists.TxDMV Office of Administrative Hearings
60 daysto a written decisionTxDMV says the hearings examiner issues a final written decision within 60 days after the hearing closes.43 TAC Sec. 224.264(a)
$50,000federal court thresholdA Magnuson-Moss claim can go to the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, only above this amount in controversy. Below it, the Dallas County courts.15 U.S.C. Sec. 2310(d)
The Short Answer

What is the lemon law in Dallas?

If you bought or leased a new vehicle in the Dallas area and a warranty defect keeps coming back after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the Texas Lemon Law can require the manufacturer to buy it back or replace it. The claim is filed with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, not a Dallas court, and the $35 filing fee is refunded if your vehicle is found to be a lemon.

The Texas Lemon Law lives in the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 2301, and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) administers it from Austin. A Dallas resident doesn't sue the manufacturer under this statute. You file a complaint with a state agency, and a hearings examiner decides whether the vehicle qualifies for a repurchase or a replacement. This page is about how that plays out for a Dallas driver. For the rules that apply statewide, see our Texas Lemon Law overview.

The law covers new cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles and towable recreational vehicles bought or leased in Texas with a written warranty. A used vehicle reaches it only while the original manufacturer warranty is still in force and the rights period hasn't closed.

Two routes, and Dallas sits on both

Alongside the state process, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act gives a Dallas driver a second route. It stays in court, and it lets a consumer who prevails recover attorney fees from the manufacturer, which the state Lemon Law itself doesn't provide. So the practical shape of a Dallas claim is often this:

  • a TxDMV complaint for the repurchase or replacement, decided by a hearings examiner after mediation;
  • a warranty claim in court under Magnuson-Moss or the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, filed in the Dallas County civil district courts or, above $50,000, the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division;
  • and one deadline that governs the first route: six months from the earliest of the warranty expiring, 24 months, or 24,000 miles.

Section 2301.607 makes you go through TxDMV before a Lemon Law remedy is available, so the agency step usually comes first. Which court fits the second route depends on the amount at stake and the facts, and that's something we settle with you before anything is filed. Our guide to how to file a lemon law claim covers the mechanics, and the lemon law glossary explains the terms.

Eligibility

Do you qualify for a lemon law claim in Dallas?

Texas spells out when a vehicle is presumed to be a lemon. The statute calls it a reasonable number of repair attempts, and it sets three separate tests plus a rights period. If you're in Dallas and you meet any one of the three tests inside that window, you've got a real case to bring to the TxDMV.

These are rebuttable presumptions, which means a driver can still win on fewer attempts and a manufacturer can try to knock one down. Each card includes a Dallas example, along with a brief self-check you can perform against your own repair record.

The Four-Times Test

The same defect goes back to a Dallas-area service department four or more times and still isn't fixed. All four visits have to fall before the earlier of the warranty expiring or the first 24 months or 24,000 miles. Four is a flat number in Texas, with no smaller sub-limit inside it.

A Dallas example A new pickup back at the dealer four times for the same stalling problem during freeway merges

The Serious Safety Test

A defect that creates a serious safety hazard clears the bar sooner: two failed repair attempts. Section 2301.601 defines that as a life-threatening fault that substantially gets in the way of controlling or operating the vehicle, or creates a real risk of fire or explosion.

A Dallas example Brakes that fade again after two service visits during summer traffic on I-30

The 30-Day Test

Your vehicle is out of service for repair for a cumulative total of 30 or more days within the rights period. The days don't have to run back to back. Days the manufacturer or distributor lends you a comparable vehicle while a franchised dealer repairs yours don't count toward the 30.

A Dallas example Repeated shop stays across a North Dallas winter that add up past 30 days, with no loaner from the manufacturer

Inside the Rights Period

The problem has to surface within the rights period: 24 months or 24,000 miles from delivery, whichever comes first. You then have six months to file, counted from the earliest of the warranty expiring, 24 months, or 24,000 miles. A Dallas driver who sits on it too long can lose the claim on the calendar alone.

A Dallas example A fault first reported at month 20 of a two-year lease, with the six months already lined up behind it

What your Dallas dealership has to hand you

Texas relies heavily on documentation, so every time the car goes into a Dallas service department for the same defect, you want a repair order that names the problem, the drop-off date, the date you got it back, the odometer reading, and what the shop did. Those orders are how you demonstrate the manufacturer used up its opportunities.

Hold onto every repair order, service invoice, and purchase or lease agreement, and keep a short log of when and where the problem shows up (TxDMV asks owners for the same thing). Those documents are what an attorney builds the claim out of, and they're also what the hearings examiner ends up reading.

Can't tell whether your repair history clears one of the tests? Send it over, and we'll give you a straight read on it.

Start My Free Case Review  Call (214) 443-4837
Where your case is heard

Where is a Dallas lemon law claim heard?

Dallas drivers ask us all the time whether they're going to have to drive down to Austin for this. In most cases, no, you won't. The Texas Lemon Law is an administrative process, and the parts of it that do involve a courtroom stay pretty close to home. Here's how the geography shakes out when a claim starts in Dallas County.

The State Agency in Austin

Yes, the TxDMV runs the Lemon Law out of its Austin headquarters. But you file the complaint online from right here in Dallas and pay the $35 fee, and the early mediation usually happens by phone, so opening a case rarely means a Dallas driver sets foot in Austin at all.

Your Hearing, Held Nearby

If the case doesn't settle in mediation, a TxDMV hearings examiner holds a hearing. The Office of Administrative Hearings sets those in or near your city of residence, and the sites it lists include Carrollton and Fort Worth. Coming from Dallas, either one is a short drive.

Appeals Go to Travis County

If either party contests the agency decision, section 2301.609 directs the appeal to a state district court in Travis County. That's the one step that's actually tied to Austin, and you only get there after a hearing has produced a decision.

A Court Claim Stays in Dallas

A separate warranty lawsuit under the federal Magnuson-Moss Act or the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act is filed here, in the Dallas County civil district courts at the George Allen Courts Building, or in the federal Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.

Why the split matters for strategy

The state Lemon Law gets you a repurchase or replacement through the agency, no lawsuit needed, while the Dallas court route can add damages and attorney fees under federal warranty law. Plenty of drivers pursue both, and when they do, the order matters: section 2301.607 says the Lemon Law remedy has to go through TxDMV first, while a Magnuson-Moss or DTPA claim runs on its own schedule in court.

There's also a backstop on timing inside the agency. If no final order issues within 150 days of your complaint, the department has to tell you that you may file a civil action instead. Most Dallas claims never get anywhere near that date, but it's good to know it's there.

Which Dallas courthouse, and why the $50,000 line matters

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. section 2310(d), lets a consumer sue in any court of competent jurisdiction. Federal court is open only where the amount in controversy is at least $50,000. 28 U.S.C. section 124(a)(1) defines the Dallas Division of the Northern District of Texas as covering Dallas County.

Below that line, or where it simply fits better, the claim goes to the Dallas County civil district courts at the George Allen Courts Building. The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act reaches the same courts.

If you want the paperwork in order, step by step, it's laid out in our guide to how to file a lemon law claim.

Confused about which route fits your situation? We sort that out in the first conversation, at no cost.

  • Bring your repair orders and the dates; usually that's enough for us to see which test your record meets.
  • Your six months get worked out from the delivery date and the odometer, not from a guess.
  • And if a court claim makes sense as well, we tell you which Dallas court, and why that one.
  • The people you talk to are the ones who'd actually work your file, not somebody at an intake desk.
Start My Free Case Review 
A relaxed Dallas driver on the phone at home while his lemon law claim is handled for him
You Stay Put

You can do all of this from your couch in Dallas

People hear that it all runs through Austin and figure they're looking at a long drive and a day off work. It doesn't really go like that. The complaint gets filed online, the early mediation is usually a phone call, and hearings are set in or near your city of residence, with Carrollton and Fort Worth among the sites TxDMV lists.

We handle the notice, put the repair history together, file the complaint and deal with the manufacturer. What's left for you is the phone call that gets it started.

How It Works

How long does a Dallas lemon law case take?

Honestly, it depends on the facts and on the manufacturer. A claim with a clean repair record often resolves within a few months, once the written notice is out and the TxDMV mediation step is done; a case that goes on to a hearing takes longer, and the clock below shows the outside dates counted from the day a hearing closes. Out of all of it, the biggest factor a Dallas driver actually controls is starting early.

  1. Day 0The hearing before the TxDMV hearings examiner closes
  2. Day 60The examiner's final written decision is due, under the 60-day rule TxDMV publishes
  3. Day 85Latest day to ask for a rehearing, when the order is signed on Day 60
  4. Day 115Latest day for the agency to act on that motion before it is overruled by operation of law

Confirm Which Law Fits

It starts with a free case evaluation, and the first questions are pretty basic ones: is the vehicle new, or still under the original written warranty, and did the defect show up inside the 24-month, 24,000-mile rights period? If so, the Texas Lemon Law is your route. If you bought it used and out of warranty, or from a private seller somewhere in the Metroplex, the claim more likely runs through the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act instead.

Document Every Repair Attempt

Each time the car goes into a Dallas service department for the same defect, get a repair order, and check that it names the problem, the drop-off date, the date you got it back, the mileage and what the shop did. If the manufacturer provides a loaner, record that as well, since those days are subtracted from the 30-day count.

Give Written Notice to the Manufacturer

Before the TxDMV can order a repurchase or replacement, the manufacturer has to get written notice of the defect and a chance to cure it. TxDMV tells consumers to use certified mail, and it publishes a sample letter. Keep in mind that the notice goes to the manufacturer and not to your Dallas dealer, and that skipping it can weaken a claim that would otherwise be strong.

File the TxDMV Complaint

You file the complaint with the TxDMV and pay the $35 fee, which comes back to you if the vehicle is found to be a lemon. The complaint has to land within six months of the earliest of the warranty expiring, 24 months, or 24,000 miles. Most cases go to mediation first, to see whether they'll settle early, and for a Dallas driver that step is usually handled over the phone.

Hearing, Decision, and Any Appeal

If mediation doesn't resolve it, a TxDMV hearings examiner holds a hearing in or near your city, with Carrollton and Fort Worth among the main locations, and issues a written decision, generally within 60 days of the hearing closing. Either side can seek a rehearing, and an appeal goes to state district court in Travis County. Many Dallas drivers also pursue a parallel Magnuson-Moss claim in a Dallas court.

Written out like this, it's five steps on a page, and that looks manageable enough. In practice each one is a place where a claim stalls (a repair order that never named the defect, say, or a notice letter that went to the dealer instead of the manufacturer, or a complaint filed a week after the six-month window closed). Manufacturers go through this process constantly, and they've got lawyers who handle nothing else.

You can file on your own, and some Dallas drivers do. The catch is that you'd be learning the rules as you go while the other side is already applying them. Nobody can tell you in advance how a claim will come out, and we won't pretend otherwise; what a firm that handles Texas Lemon Law claims can do is keep the record clean and the deadlines intact, so that the case turns on the defect and not on some technicality.

Outcomes

What compensation can you receive?

When a Texas claim succeeds, the statute points to three possible remedies, and they're the same three TxDMV lists: a repurchase, a replacement, or a repair with costs reimbursed. What you actually get turns on the facts. The whole aim, though, is getting a Dallas driver back to where they should have been before the defective vehicle upended things.

Repurchase or replacement

Section 2301.604 sets the first two. The manufacturer swaps in a comparable vehicle, or takes yours back and refunds the full purchase price less a reasonable allowance for your use, and reimburses incidental costs either way. TxDMV says the refund covers tax, title and license. It doesn't include interest you paid on the loan.

How the use deduction is worked out

TxDMV figures the deduction on its own repurchase worksheet, against a presumed useful life of 120,000 miles. The odometer reading on the day you first reported the defect is the dividing line:

  1. Miles from delivery to that first report count at the full rate against the purchase price.
  2. Miles after the first report, up to the hearing, count at half that rate.
  3. The $35 filing fee is added back to what you receive.

That's the reason the first repair order on a Dallas claim matters so much. It fixes the reading your miles get split by. Our Texas buyback calculator runs the same arithmetic, if you want to check it.

Attorney fees come from federal law

If you also bring a federal claim, 15 U.S.C. section 2310(d)(2) permits a court to award attorney fees to a consumer who ultimately prevails. That's one reason a genuine claim doesn't have to come out of your pocket. Outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case, though, and so no attorney can tell you ahead of time what yours will be.

Possible Outcomes

Five things a successful Dallas claim can bring

  • Repurchase or refund

    Of the purchase price, with tax, title and license, minus the allowance for use worked out on TxDMV's worksheet

  • Replacement

    With a comparable vehicle, under section 2301.604

  • Repair

    Of the defect, plus reimbursement of related out-of-pocket costs

  • Incidental costs

    Reasonable costs from losing the use of the car, reimbursed with a repurchase or a replacement

  • Attorney fees

    Recoverable from the manufacturer under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, in a Dallas court claim

Outcomes depend on the facts of each case, so no attorney can tell you in advance what yours will be.

Manufacturers We've Taken to Court

We Take On the
Biggest Names

Vehicles We Handle

Which vehicles does the lemon law cover in Dallas?

Dallas is truck country, no argument there, and the Metroplex has taken to electric vehicles and heavy diesel pickups as fast as anywhere in Texas. Section 2301.002 defines a motor vehicle broadly enough to take in any fully self-propelled vehicle with two or more wheels, plus towable recreational vehicles. So the tests and the deadlines stay the same from one kind of vehicle to the next, even though the defect patterns don't. Pick a category below and then open the guide we built for it.

Conventional Vehicles

This is the sedans, hatchbacks, crossovers and everyday passenger cars, which are the vehicles the statute was written around in the first place. The TxDMV lists cars, trucks and vans as covered when bought or leased new in Texas. See our practice areas.

Diesel Trucks

If you bought a new diesel pickup anywhere around DFW, it's covered. Where the trouble usually centers is on emissions systems, diesel exhaust fluid faults and power derates. See our diesel emissions lemon law guide.

Motorcycles

A new motorcycle carries a written warranty and can qualify too, since the statute counts any self-propelled vehicle with two or more wheels (and TxDMV lists motorcycles by name, for good measure). See our motorcycle lemon law guide.

RVs and Motorhomes

Motor homes and towable recreational vehicles both fall under the statute. On a towable RV the mileage limits generally don't apply. See our RV and motorhome lemon law guide.

Electric Vehicles

An EV bought new anywhere in the Metroplex is in. The problems we keep seeing on them involve the battery, the charging system, the drive units and the software. See our electric vehicle lemon law guide.

See All Practice Areas →
Client Stories

What Our Clients Say

Real results from real clients who trusted
RockPoint Law with their lemon law claims.

I contacted RockPoint Law in July 2025 and by mid Jan 2026, I had received my settlement proceeds. A mid 5-figure loan was paid off and the manufacturer took possession of the vehicle. Not having that car payment and the mandatory full coverage freed up about $900/month. If you're on the fence about calling RockPoint Law, let it go. The relief you will feel when it all works out will be soooo worth it.

Read more
HJ
Henry Jose
Google Review

Was having nothing but issues with the DEF system in my Ram 3500. I didn't have high hopes because 3500 trucks are generally excluded from lemon law. The entire process from the time I contacted RockPoint Law to the time I received my settlement was under 6 months! Their response times were well above expectations.

Read more
JR
Joe Russo
Google Review

My Telluride's transmission would jerk so hard between gears that my coffee would spill. Dealer had it four times. When I called RockPoint Law, they asked the exact technical question I'd been researching for weeks. We got a buyback with reimbursement for my deductible and rental costs. They speak fluent mechanic before they speak lawyer.

Read more
K
Kirill
Google Review

Turbo failure on my EcoBoost F-150. Dealer replaced it once, then denied the second. Steven Nassi compared my case to known manufacturing defects for that engine. Other lawyers just saw 'engine trouble.' Steven built the argument around the known defect pattern. Secured a full refund.

Read more
JR
Joshua Ragsdale
Google Review

Our minivan's sliding door would just stop working. Not a great feature with little kids. Tried to get it fixed under warranty three times. Final straw was when it almost closed on my son's arm. Leo was our attorney and got us a great outcome. They handled everything from start to finish.

Read more
JG
Jorge Garcia
Google Review

My family's cross-country road trip turned into a nightmare when our brand-new SUV broke down in three different states. Each dealership kept giving us the run-around. RockPoint Law tracked every failed repair, hotel receipt, and even our unused theme park tickets. They got us a full buyback plus $8,200 for the vacation that fell apart.

Read more
AG
Adam Gore
Google Review

The active suspension in my Ram 1500 started making a loud 'clunk' on every bump. Dealer replaced one part but the noise just moved to another corner. After the third repair, I was done. Natalie Nassi said, 'A repeated failure of a major chassis component is a clear impairment to value and use.' She didn't see a noise; she saw a failed system.

Read more
PM
Piyawan Maprakhon
Google Review

My car is basically my mobile office. When the electrical system fried two laptops and killed my productivity, I reached out to RockPoint Law. Unlike the dealer who treated me as a nuisance, RockPoint Law saw how it impacted my ability to work. They secured a full refund on the vehicle plus $6,500 for lost income and equipment.

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SK
Sadie Kim
Google Review

The manufacturer told me I was out of luck. RockPoint Law told me otherwise — and proved it! Their lemon law experience turned my nightmare into a fair resolution. What impressed me most was their transparency — no false claims, just hard facts and harder work. Worth every penny and then some!

Read more
KE
Kevin Eimuth
Google Review

From the moment I walked into their office shaking with frustration, the team at RockPoint Law put me at ease. They listened patiently to my whole story, then laid out a clear game plan. Six weeks later, I was holding a check that made all those repair shop trips worth it. True professionals who deliver!

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JB
Jatt James Bond
Google Review

We had two vans with the same transmission failure. RockPoint Law consolidated both claims, lined up build dates, and pushed for an extended coverage fix. Both vans were repaired, and we got downtime reimbursed.

Read more
KS
Kishan Singh
Google Review

The hands-free liftgate on my SUV would randomly open in my garage, denting the door. I felt crazy complaining about a 'convenience feature.' Our attorney reframed it: 'An uncontrolled operation of a motorized component is a safety and property damage risk.' The team used my security camera footage as evidence. We got a solid settlement.

Read more
PS
Peyman Soleimani
Google Review
Why RockPoint

Why Dallas drivers choose RockPoint Law

Aaron Waldo reviews this Dallas guidance. He's a Lemon Law attorney here at RockPoint Law, and his practice covers consumer protection and warranty claims for Texas drivers. We've got an office in Dallas, and the drivers we represent are spread out all over Dallas County and the rest of the Metroplex, which is a lot of ground, but that's where our clients are.

Lemon Law Is Our Core Practice

Some firms do a little of everything and take a lemon case if one comes through the door. That's not us. Warranty and lemon law is what we do, every single day, and the people we do it for are drivers who got stuck with a defective vehicle.

A Presence in Dallas

Our office is at 325 N Saint Paul St., so when we talk about North Texas, we're actually here on the ground. We represent drivers whether you're in Dallas County or somewhere else around DFW, and if you'd like to come in and meet us face to face, that's fine too.

We Know Both Dallas Routes

On the state side it goes the three presumption tests, then the written notice, the $35 complaint, mediation and the hearing. A warranty claim goes a different way, through the Dallas County and Northern District courts. We run the whole thing either way, so you're not stuck trying to figure out which door to knock on.

Clear Communication

We'll give you straight updates at every stage of your case, so there aren't long stretches where you hear nothing from us, and there aren't any surprises.

No Upfront Legal Fees

If your case qualifies, we take it on contingency. In plain terms, you don't pay a fee unless we recover for you, and under Magnuson-Moss a court can make the manufacturer pay the fees of a consumer who prevails.

Meet the Team →
Our Story

Meet the Firm Behind Your Claim

The same attorneys who handle claims nationwide handle them here. Two minutes on who we are and how we work.

Side-by-Side

Do I need a lemon law attorney in Dallas?

Here's what a Dallas claim looks like when you handle it alone, set next to what it looks like with an attorney. Flip the switch and you'll see the same four moments play out from both sides.

Vehicle repair invoices spread across a kitchen table with a hand hovering over them
On your own1 / 4

Guessing which presumption test your repair history meets

Texas gives you three routes: four repair attempts on the same defect, two on a serious safety defect, or 30 days out of service. Which one your repair orders actually support is what decides how the claim gets filed, and if you read them wrong you can end up spending months on a theory the record was never going to carry in the first place.

A person on the phone at a home desk with a notepad of call notes
On your own2 / 4

Arguing with the manufacturer on your own

Over on the other side, the manufacturer has people who handle warranty disputes every working day of the week, and they know exactly which repair orders help them. You, meanwhile, get one written notice, and whatever you put into it shapes everything that comes after.

A wall calendar with deadline dates circled in red beside a set of car keys
On your own3 / 4

Missing the six-month filing window

The TxDMV complaint has to be filed within six months of the earliest of three dates: the warranty expiring, 24 months passing, or 24,000 miles. If you miss it, a strong claim ends on the calendar instead of on the facts, which is a hard thing to watch happen.

One person alone at the end of a long empty hearing room table
On your own4 / 4

Facing the hearing and the mileage math alone

A repurchase is reduced by an allowance for the miles you drove, worked out against the 120,000-mile useful life on the TxDMV repurchase worksheet. Then at the hearing it's you presenting the repair record, on your own, and you're the one who has to answer for the arithmetic.

Hands working through an organized stack of repair orders with a highlighter and index tabs
With RockPoint Law1 / 4

A clear read on the four-times, safety, or 30-day test

Before anything gets filed, we go through the repair orders and tell you which test your record supports. Sometimes it supports more than one, and when it does, we lead with the strongest.

A certified mail envelope and return receipt card being prepared on a desk
With RockPoint Law2 / 4

Attorneys handle the notice, the calls, and the negotiation

We send the written notice by certified mail, with the kind of detail the statute expects, and from then on the manufacturer deals with us rather than with you.

An open case planner with color-coded deadline tabs being marked
With RockPoint Law3 / 4

Notice and TxDMV deadlines tracked to the statute

Your dates get worked out from the delivery date and the odometer (not from anybody's memory of when things happened), and we file the $35 complaint inside the six-month window.

A bound exhibit folder open on a conference table
With RockPoint Law4 / 4

The team prepares your case and presents the repair record

We turn the repair history into an exhibit and get you ready for the questions you'll be asked. Then we present the case at mediation and at the hearing, and in a Dallas court too if that's the route that fits.

Serving Dallas County

On the ground in Dallas and the Metroplex

A big county, and a big new-car market

First, a bit about the place. Dallas is the county seat of Dallas County, where roughly 2.6 million residents live, and the city sits at the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country. It's one of the busiest new-vehicle markets in the United States, too. More cars sold means more warranties and more dealerships, and it also means more drivers who end up with a car that won't stay fixed, which is usually where we come in.

US-75, I-635 and I-35E

Getting around here means driving, mostly. Commuters from Plano and Frisco come down US-75, people out in Irving and the mid-cities spend their mornings on I-635 and I-35E, and if you work downtown for an employer like AT&T, Texas Instruments or Southwest Airlines, you need a car that starts every single morning. So when a defect makes that drive a gamble, well, that's the reason the Lemon Law is there. Something else about all that driving: the 24,000-mile limit comes up faster on these roads than people expect.

We represent drivers across Dallas County and the towns next door, places like:

  • Downtown and East Dallas
  • North Dallas
  • Oak Cliff
  • Garland
  • Irving
  • Mesquite
  • Richardson
  • Grand Prairie

Does it matter which Dallas dealership sold you the car? Not for the dates. Where the dealership sits doesn't move any of the Texas dates, and your delivery date and your mileage are the only things that do. And whether you're in Dallas proper or one of the suburbs, the same tests apply to you.

How to reach us

Dallas office: 325 N Saint Paul St., Suite 3100, Dallas, TX 75201. If you want the fastest way to reach our Dallas team, it's the online intake form. We look at every request that comes in and respond as soon as we can. You can also just call (214) 443-4837. (This Dallas guide is one piece of our statewide Texas Lemon Law page.)

Nearby Texas city pages

Case Results

Recent RockPoint Law recoveries

The three numbers below are real, but they need a little context. They come out of the lemon law settlement record our firm publishes, across brands, so these are firmwide results and not Dallas or Texas outcomes. What they're good for is showing what a well-documented defect claim can be worth when it's handled properly. They don't tell you what your own claim is worth; that comes down to your facts.

$160,264 BMW X6

Recovery on a vehicle with engine, electrical and suspension defects.

$144,550 Porsche Macan

Recovery on a Macan with suspension, drivetrain, electrical and HVAC problems.

$110,289 Rivian R1T

Recovery after electrical, engine and suspension failures on an electric pickup.

Figures are drawn from our firm's published settlement record and are not specific to Dallas or Texas matters. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. See more RockPoint Law settlements 

RockPoint Law, by the numbers

$50M+**
Recovered for clients
3,000+‡
Cases handled
25+
Years of combined experience
97%*
Resolution rate
  • Free Consultation
  • No attorney's fees unless we recover for you.†
Recent Google reviewsAcross all RockPoint offices: 4.8 from 19 Google reviews
  • ★★★★★a month ago
    I had a really good experience with RockPoint Law. The whole process was a lot easier than I expected and everyone I dealt with was helpful and responsive. Whenever I had a question, I was able to get an answer without feeling like I was chasing anyone down. They handled everything and kept me updated along the way. Definitely glad I reached out to them.
    Ronen S. Malekmehr
  • ★★★★★6 months ago
    Saw RockPoint Law and wasn't sure. Called anyway because I was at my wit's end. Natalie Nassi answered and she remembered me from somewhere else. Same calm voice, same no-nonsense approach. She took my case and handled everything. Manufacturer bought the car back. Name on the door changed but Natalie didn't. That's what matters to me.
    Tanja Moldenhauer
  • ★★★★★6 months ago
    Saw RockPoint Law online and wasn't sure because I hadn't heard of them. But I was desperate. My car had been in and out of the shop for months. Called them up and the person I spoke with was so easy to talk to. No legal mumbo jumbo, just straight talk. They took my case and got me a buyback. New name but they know what they're doing. Would recommend.
    Rodolfo Paulino
2 more Google reviews
  • ★★★★★6 months ago
    Honestly wasn't sure about RockPoint Law since I hadn't heard of them before. But I was desperate. My car had been in the shop five times for the same problem and nobody could figure it out. Service advisor started avoiding my calls. I found RockPoint online, called, and the person I talked to was really down to earth. They took my repair orders and handled the whole thing. A few months later, the manufacturer bought the car back. New name but they got it done. Would use them again in a heartbeat.
    Om Shiv
  • ★★★★★6 months ago
    Saw RockPoint Law pop up when I was googling lemon law help. Wasn't sure about the name but figured I'd give it a shot. My Jeep Gladiator had a death wobble at highway speeds—front end would shake violently. Dealer replaced the steering stabilizer twice, still shook. The person I talked to at RockPoint was super calm and explained everything clearly. They handled the claim and Jeep bought the truck back. Glad I didn't let the new name scare me off. They got the job done.
    Víctor Torres

About this page

Written by the RockPoint Law Editorial Team · Reviewed by Aaron K. Waldo, Texas Bar No. 24107954 (State Bar record). Prepared July 2026 to reflect the Texas Lemon Law under the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 2301, administered by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. See our editorial policy.

Anyone can check a Texas attorney's license and public discipline record in the State Bar of Texas Find-A-Lawyer directory. We think you should, for any firm you're considering, including this one.

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Tell us what the car is doing in Dallas

Three details about the vehicle, and how to reach you.

  • The year and make of your vehicle
  • What the dealer has already tried, and whether you paid for it
  • Your name, phone and email. We review every request and respond as soon as we can

No cost, no obligation. Contacting RockPoint Law does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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Our Team

Meet the Team
Behind RockPoint Law

A dedicated team that stands with you through every step of your Lemon Law claim.

Steven Nassi
Steven Nassi
Managing Partner
Founder · 25+ years of litigation experience
★ Founder & Managing Partner
Natalie Nassi
Natalie Nassi
Managing Partner
Columbia University · 20+ years in consumer advocacy
Ron Kaniuk
Ron Kaniuk
Florida Managing Partner
St. John's University School of Law · Consumer protection & lemon law
Aaron Waldo
Aaron Waldo
Attorney
U.S. Marine Corps veteran · Automotive background
Liam Jones
Liam Jones
Attorney
Licensed in New York & New Jersey
Christian Garcia
Christian Garcia
Senior Case Manager
Case management from intake through resolution
Rudy Gutierrez
Rudy Gutierrez
Intake Manager
First point of contact for new clients & case evaluations
FAQ

Dallas lemon law questions

These are the questions Dallas drivers ask us most often, along with what you should know before you file anything.

Do I have to drive to Austin to file a Texas Lemon Law claim from Dallas?

Almost never, and that surprises a lot of people. You file online, mediation comes first, and if it does get as far as a hearing, TxDMV sets it near where you live, at one of seven main sites: Austin, Carrollton, Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, Houston, Pharr or San Antonio.

In almost every case, no. It's true that the Texas Lemon Law is run by the TxDMV out of Austin, but you file online or by mail and the agency tries mediation first, so getting a claim started doesn't involve a trip anywhere. If your case does reach a hearing, the TxDMV Office of Administrative Hearings says it attempts to set the hearing near where the complainant lives, and the hearing sites it lists include Carrollton and Fort Worth. The examiners themselves are based in Austin, and they're the ones who travel the state, not you. The one step tied to Austin is an appeal, which Texas Occupations Code, section 2301.609 routes to a district court in Travis County. That only comes up after a written final order, though, and plenty of cases are over well before anybody gets to that point.

Which court would hear a lemon law lawsuit for a Dallas driver?

The Lemon Law claim itself goes to TxDMV, not to a court. A Magnuson-Moss or DTPA warranty suit is a different animal, and that one is filed in the Dallas County civil district courts, or in the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, above $50,000.

The state Lemon Law claim goes to the TxDMV, not a court, and Texas Occupations Code, section 2301.607 requires you to exhaust that administrative route first. A warranty lawsuit works differently, and this is the part where people tend to get the two mixed up. The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. section 2310(d), lets a consumer sue in any court of competent jurisdiction, and so does the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. For a Dallas driver, that means the Dallas County civil district courts, or the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, which 28 U.S.C. section 124(a)(1) defines as covering Dallas County. Magnuson-Moss sets a $50,000 threshold for federal filing. Which of those forums fits your case depends on your facts, and that's something we sort out before anything gets filed.

How many repair attempts does my vehicle need before it qualifies in Texas?

Four repairs of the same defect, two for a serious safety hazard, or 30 cumulative days out of service, inside the earlier of the warranty or 24 months or 24,000 miles from delivery.

Texas presumes a vehicle is a lemon under any one of three tests in Texas Occupations Code, section 2301.605. The four-times test looks for the same defect repaired four or more times, with those attempts made before the earlier of the warranty expiring or 24 months or 24,000 miles from delivery. The serious safety hazard test drops that to two attempts, and section 2301.601 defines the hazard as a life-threatening one. The 30-day test applies when the vehicle sits out of service a cumulative 30 days or more inside that same window. The TxDMV states the same three tests, in case you'd like to see it in the agency's own words. All three are rebuttable, and that matters more than people expect, because it means a driver can still build a case on fewer attempts with the right record.

What is the deadline to file, and how does it apply to a Dallas purchase?

Six months from the earliest of the warranty expiring, 24 months, or 24,000 miles after delivery. And where your Dallas dealer happens to be located doesn't change the dates at all.

The rights period runs 24 months or 24,000 miles from the date the vehicle was delivered to you, whichever comes first. Texas Occupations Code, section 2301.606 then requires the proceeding to start no later than six months after the earliest of the express warranty expiring, 24 months passing, or 24,000 miles, and the TxDMV states the same deadline. It doesn't matter where your Dallas dealership sits, either, since that does not move these dates, and the only things that do are your delivery date and your mileage. The calendar can end a strong claim all by itself, which is why a Dallas driver who's getting close to either limit should not wait around. Get your exact dates confirmed by an attorney instead of trying to work them out from memory.

My car was bought in Dallas but I live in a suburb. Does that matter?

No, it doesn't. The same statewide tests and deadlines apply whether you live in Dallas, Plano, Garland, Irving, or Mesquite, because eligibility depends on how the vehicle was purchased and registered, and your address isn't part of that.

Not for eligibility, no. The Texas Lemon Law is a statewide statute run by a state agency, so whether you're in Dallas proper or out in Plano, Garland, Irving, or Mesquite, you're working with the same tests and the same deadlines. Texas Occupations Code, section 2301.601 defines an eligible owner by how the vehicle was bought and where it is registered, not by which city you live in. What actually matters is that the vehicle carries a written warranty and has the repair history to back up a claim. Where you live can affect the logistics, since the TxDMV Office of Administrative Hearings tries to set hearings near where the complainant lives, but it does not change your rights. We represent drivers across Dallas County and the rest of the surrounding Metroplex, and they all get the same terms.

Does the Texas Lemon Law cover a used car I bought in the Dallas area?

Only while the original manufacturer warranty is still running, or where the defect was reported during it and never fixed. If neither of those fits, the places to look next are Magnuson-Moss or the DTPA.

Only in limited situations, and it's better to be clear about that up front. The TxDMV says a used vehicle can qualify while it is still covered by the original manufacturer warranty, not an extended service contract. Texas Occupations Code, section 2301.603 also reaches past the date the warranty ends when you reported the defect while it was still running and the defect was never fixed, and section 2301.601 treats a later transferee as an owner. Once the factory warranty is gone with nothing reported, the state Lemon Law usually will not reach the car. You may still have a claim under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act if a written warranty existed, or under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act if the sale involved misrepresentation.

What can I recover if my vehicle is found to be a lemon?

It comes down to a repurchase, a replacement, or a repair with costs reimbursed. A refund covers tax, title and license as well, less a use allowance, and if there's a federal claim alongside it, that can add attorney fees.

A successful claim ends in a repurchase, a replacement, or a repair with costs reimbursed, the three forms of relief the TxDMV lists. Texas Occupations Code, section 2301.604 sets the first two: the manufacturer swaps in a comparable vehicle, or takes yours back and refunds the full purchase price less a reasonable allowance for your use, and reimburses incidental costs either way. The TxDMV says the refund covers tax, title and license, and figures the use deduction on its own repurchase worksheet. If you also bring a federal claim, 15 U.S.C. section 2310(d)(2) lets a court award attorney fees to a consumer who finally prevails. How it comes out in your case turns on your facts.

Do I have to notify the manufacturer before the TxDMV gets involved?

Yes. Section 2301.606 bars a refund or replacement order unless the manufacturer got written notice and a chance to cure. Send it by certified mail, and send it to the manufacturer, not the dealer (an easy one to mix up when the dealer is the place you've been dealing with all along).

Yes. Texas Occupations Code, section 2301.606 bars the agency from ordering a refund or a replacement unless the manufacturer got written notice of the defect and a chance to cure it. The TxDMV tells consumers to send that notice by certified mail and publishes a sample letter for it. The notice goes to the manufacturer and not to your Dallas dealer, because the manufacturer is the one that owes the warranty obligation. Skipping it is one of the most common ways a strong claim gets weakened, since the whole statute is built around a documented final opportunity to repair. An attorney can draft the notice for you and hang on to proof of delivery, and that proof becomes part of the record if the case ever reaches a hearing.

How long does a Dallas lemon law case usually take?

A clean claim often resolves within a few months. If yours ends up going to a hearing, TxDMV issues a written decision within 60 days of the hearing closing, and there's a 150-day backstop after filing on top of that.

Honestly, it depends on the facts and on which manufacturer you're up against. Claims with a clean repair record often resolve within a few months, once the written notice is out and the TxDMV mediation step is behind you. Cases that reach a hearing take longer: the TxDMV says the hearing examiner issues a final written decision within 60 days after the hearing closes. Texas Occupations Code, section 2301.607 adds a backstop, requiring the department to notify you of your right to file a civil action if no final order issues within 150 days of your complaint. If there's a parallel court claim, that one runs on its own schedule. Of all of it, the biggest factor a Dallas driver actually controls is starting early.

How much does a Dallas lemon law attorney cost?

The consultation is free, and qualifying cases run on contingency. TxDMV does charge $35 to file, but that's refunded on a buyback, and Magnuson-Moss lets a court award fees to a consumer who prevails.

At RockPoint Law the consultation is free, and qualifying cases run on a contingency fee basis, which means that if we do not recover for you, you do not pay a fee. The TxDMV charges a $35 filing fee for the complaint itself, and its official repurchase worksheet carries a line refunding that fee when a vehicle is bought back. On top of that, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act at 15 U.S.C. section 2310(d)(2) lets a court award attorney fees to a consumer who finally prevails, which is one reason pursuing a real claim does not have to come out of your pocket. So cost really shouldn't be the thing that keeps a Dallas driver from finding out where they stand.

My vehicle is an EV or a diesel truck bought in DFW. Is it still covered?

Yes. Texas defines a motor vehicle broadly, and new EVs and diesel pickups bought across DFW are covered on the same tests and deadlines as everything else; what differs is the kind of defect that keeps showing up.

Yes. Texas Occupations Code, section 2301.002 defines a motor vehicle broadly enough to take in any fully self-propelled vehicle with two or more wheels, plus towable recreational vehicles, and the TxDMV lists cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, motor homes and towable RVs as covered. So electric vehicles bought new across the Metroplex are in, and with those the recurring issues we see involve the battery, the charging system, the drive units, and software. New diesel pickups are covered too, and there the trouble usually centers on emissions systems, diesel exhaust fluid faults, and power derates (the truck cutting its own power). The tests and deadlines don't change from one vehicle type to the next, but the defect patterns do, so it makes sense to start with our guide for electric vehicles, diesel trucks, motorcycles, or RVs.

What should I bring to a free case review?

Bring every repair order and invoice for the defect, the purchase or lease agreement, the warranty booklet, and a log of when the problem happened, and don't worry if it isn't organized, because it doesn't need to be.

Bring your paper trail, basically, whatever shape it's in. The things that help most are every repair order and service invoice for the recurring defect, your purchase or lease agreement, and your warranty booklet. The TxDMV tells owners the same thing: keep every repair order, and maintain a log with the date, time and location of each problem. If you jotted down the mileage at each visit or what the service department told you, that's a real help, and so is any written back-and-forth with the dealer or the manufacturer. If your vehicle has been out of service for long stretches, a rough count of those days matters for the 30-day test in section 2301.605. You do not need it perfectly organized, and we can work from whatever you have.

Don't take on the manufacturer alone.

Tell us the vehicle and what the dealer has already tried. No fee unless we recover for you.†

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