Shopping for a car, whether you’re venturing into the new car market or exploring pre-owned options, can often feel like navigating a maze of potential pitfalls. Buying new can mean facing steep price tags and unwanted dealer extras. Opting for used can be a gamble, leaving you wondering if your new ride will quickly turn into a source of frustration just down the road.
It’s in these situations, when a vehicle proves to be persistently defective and unreliable, that we often use the term “lemon.” You might even hear about “lemon laws” in various states, designed to protect consumers from these problematic purchases. But where does this peculiar connection between a faulty car and a tangy citrus fruit actually come from?
The use of “lemon” to describe something worthless or fraudulent dates back to the early 20th century. According to the Green’s Dictionary of Slang, the term “lemon” started being used to refer to a bad bargain or a swindle around 1909. By 1923, the automotive world had adopted the term. An article in The Oakland Tribune from that year recounted a used car salesman who was pleased to have finally “rid himself of a lemon.” The term “lemon” as both a noun and adjective has long been associated with things unpleasant or unpalatable, much like the intensely tart taste of the lemon fruit itself to some. The sourness and disappointment linked to a lemon likely mirrored the feeling of being stuck with a defective car.
The association between “lemon” and unreliable cars might have been further solidified by a clever advertising campaign from Volkswagen in the 1960s. Known for their minimalist and impactful ads, Volkswagen ran a print ad featuring a photograph of their Beetle with a single, stark word as the caption: “lemon.” The ad copy then explained that Volkswagen’s rigorous quality control process had identified minor flaws in this particular car during inspection. Rather than letting it slip through, they ensured it wouldn’t reach dealerships with any imperfections.
“We pluck the lemons; you get the plums,” the Volkswagen ad famously declared, turning the negative connotation of “lemon” on its head and using it to emphasize their commitment to quality.
However, it wasn’t until 1975 that actual “lemon” protection for consumers became a federal reality. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, officially the Magnuson Moss Federal Trade Commission Improvements Act, was enacted to ensure consumers weren’t stuck with faulty products, cars included, and to guarantee reasonable warranty terms.
While this law applies broadly to all consumer goods, automobiles were a primary concern. Cars represent a significant purchase for most people and are inherently complex machines prone to mechanical issues. Though the Act covers warranties for all products, it quickly became synonymous with car issues and earned the popular moniker “lemon law.” It’s important to note that the law technically addresses the vehicle’s warranty rather than labeling the car itself a “lemon,” but the term stuck.
For instance, in New York State, the lemon law mandates that a new car must adhere to the manufacturer’s warranty. If defects cannot be adequately repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, the law dictates that the buyer is entitled to a refund or a replacement vehicle.
Lemon laws can differ significantly from state to state, and the specifics can depend on whether you’re dealing with a new or used vehicle. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand the lemon laws in your specific location. When purchasing a used car, it’s always wise to get a thorough pre-purchase inspection and obtain a vehicle history report. Pay close attention to the dealer’s window sticker, which should indicate if the vehicle is being sold with a warranty or “as-is,” meaning without any guarantees.
Interestingly, there’s a twist where “lemon” – or at least the color associated with lemons – can be advantageous in the car world. According to an analysis by iSeeCars, yellow cars surprisingly hold their value better than most. Their study comparing used car prices to the original MSRP of new cars found that yellow cars depreciated at a rate of just 4.5 percent, significantly lower than the average depreciation of 15 percent across all colors. So, while you don’t want a lemon car, a yellow car might just be a smart choice in the long run.
