In Florida, air conditioning isn't a luxury. A truck whose A/C keeps failing can't be used comfortably, or safely, for much of the year. If your Sierra or Silverado has been back for the same A/C problem again and again, it may qualify as a lemon.

What GM's Bulletin Says

GM issued a technician bulletin (PIT5767A) for certain 2019–2021 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 trucks that blow warm air from the driver's side vents while the passenger side stays cold. The bulletin points technicians to a condenser that may be bypassing internally, and calls for replacing it. A bulletin is a repair guide, not a recall, and newer trucks may have different A/C problems, including refrigerant leaks, compressor failures, and blend-door or HVAC control faults.

Can A/C Be a "Substantial" Defect?

Florida's law covers defects that substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. A/C that fails repeatedly in Florida heat can affect use (you can't drive the family in it), value, and safety (defogging, driver fatigue). Whether a particular A/C defect qualifies depends on the facts, so documentation matters.

Document Every Visit

  • Describe the symptom specifically: "driver-side vents blow warm after 10 minutes."
  • Take a vent thermometer reading or a video.
  • Make sure the complaint is on every repair order, even if the dealer can't reproduce it.

How Florida's Lemon Law Applies

Florida's Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act (Fla. Stat. ch. 681) covers new vehicles bought or leased in Florida and used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. The key rules:

  • 24-month Lemon Law Rights Period, measured from the date the vehicle was first delivered to the consumer.
  • A presumption that the vehicle is a lemon if, during that period, the same defect has been through 3 or more repair attempts and still exists (after the manufacturer's final repair attempt), or the vehicle has been out of service for repair of one or more defects for a cumulative 30 or more days.
  • Written notice to the manufacturer, sent by registered or express mail, is required before the presumption can be used. The manufacturer then gets a final repair attempt.
  • Remedy: a repurchase (refund) or a comparable replacement vehicle, less a reasonable offset for use. The consumer may choose the refund.
  • Exclusions: trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, off-road vehicles, and motorcycles are not covered.

See our Florida Lemon Law overview and how many repair attempts for more detail.

Heavy-Duty Trucks: The 10,000-Pound GVWR Rule

Florida's Lemon Law excludes "trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight." Light-duty 1500 pickups are well under that line. Many 2500HD and 3500HD configurations are over it, and some are close to it, so coverage depends on the specific truck.

Check the GVWR printed on the certification label in the driver's door jamb. If it is 10,000 pounds or less, the truck may be covered. If it is higher, Chapter 681 likely does not apply, though other warranty remedies (such as the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act) may still be available. Send us a photo of the label and we'll tell you where you stand.

Work Trucks and Business Use

The law protects vehicles used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. A truck you also use for some work can still qualify, but a vehicle bought and used mainly for a business may not. Tell us how you use the truck during the case review.

Documents to Gather

  • Every repair order (RO), with dates in and out, mileage, your complaint, and what the dealer did
  • Your purchase or lease contract and window sticker
  • Any written notice you sent to the manufacturer, and proof of registered or express mail delivery
  • Loaner or rental agreements (they help prove days out of service)
  • Recall and bulletin notices, texts, and emails from the dealer or manufacturer

Statewide Florida Representation

We represent owners in all 67 Florida counties, from Miami and Tampa to Jacksonville and the Panhandle. Case review is by phone and email, with no office visit needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

My A/C was recharged twice and fails again. Do those visits count?

Yes, they can count as repair attempts for the same defect. Three attempts plus the final repair opportunity can trigger the presumption.

Related Pages

This page is general information, not legal advice. Recall and bulletin details come from manufacturer filings with NHTSA and may change; whether a particular vehicle is covered depends on its VIN and facts.

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