Arizona Auto Repair Laws & How to Sue a Mechanic

Possible remedy: Actual damages: cost of corrective repair plus consequential losses (towing, rental, additional damage). Punitive damages only on a showing of aggravated tortious conduct. No statutory fee-shifting; contract-based fees may be available in the court's discretion under A.R.S. 12-341.01 for a claim arising out of contract.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (amount paid for the defective repair and consequential losses); punitive damages on a showing of wanton or reckless conduct. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (overcharge and out-of-pocket losses) under the implied private right of action; punitive damages available where the conduct is wanton, reckless, or shows ill will. No statutory treble damages or attorney-fee shifting under the ACFA. One-year statute of limitations.

Case law: Arizona Supreme Court reversed for the consumer-buyers; held the Consumer Fraud Act (A.R.S. 44-1521 et seq.) creates an implied private right of action and that punitive damages are available for deceptive practices.

Possible remedy: Actual damages equal to amounts charged/paid for unauthorized work; punitive damages on a showing of aggravated conduct. No statutory treble or fee award under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.

Possible remedy: Actual damages measured by the amount billed above the authorized estimate; punitive damages where conduct is wanton or reckless. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.

Possible remedy: Actual damages for undocumented or unsupportable charges; punitive damages on a showing of aggravated conduct. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (value of parts / amount paid for parts not shown to have been replaced); punitive damages on a showing of aggravated conduct. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (amounts paid for unperformed services and consequential losses); punitive damages on a showing of aggravated conduct; contract fees possible in the court's discretion under A.R.S. 12-341.01. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA itself.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (cost to repair the additional damage and consequential losses such as rental and towing); punitive damages only on a showing of aggravated tortious conduct.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (cost of the erroneous diagnosis/repair and consequential losses); punitive damages on a showing of aggravated conduct. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (overpayment relative to the parts actually installed and consequential losses); punitive damages on a showing of aggravated conduct. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (amounts charged/paid for unneeded or unauthorized repairs); punitive damages on a showing of wanton or reckless conduct. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (the overcharge); punitive damages on a showing of aggravated conduct; contract fees possible in the court's discretion under A.R.S. 12-341.01. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA itself.

Possible remedy: A.R.S. 44-1481 violation is a class 3 misdemeanor (no private money recovery on its own); civil actual damages and possible punitive damages are recovered through the ACFA private right of action. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year ACFA limitations period.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (difference between the advertised/quoted and actual charge, plus consequential losses); punitive damages on a showing of aggravated conduct. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.

Possible remedy: Release of the vehicle on tender of the legitimately agreed charges; damages for wrongful detention/conversion (loss of use, rental, value) where the lien is asserted for non-agreed amounts; possible punitive damages for aggravated conduct.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (amounts paid in reliance on the false licensing/authorization claim); punitive damages on a showing of aggravated conduct. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.

Possible remedy: Repair, or refund/replacement under the lemon-law article. A.R.S. 44-1265(B) MANDATES reasonable costs and attorney fees to a consumer who prevails in an action under the Motor Vehicle Warranties article (A.R.S. 44-1261 to 44-1267) — the one fee-shifting hook in the AZ vehicle statutes; the trigger is prevailing, not discretionary.

Possible remedy: Disallowance/recovery of non-agreed storage charges; ACFA actual damages and possible punitive damages for aggravated conduct. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA.

Possible remedy: A.R.S. 49-549 supplies the unlawful-conduct standard (criminal/regulatory). Civil actual damages (fees paid, cost of a proper inspection and any resulting harm) and possible punitive damages are recovered through the ACFA private right of action. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA.

Possible remedy: Actual damages (inspection fee, cost of a proper re-inspection, and consequential losses) through the ACFA private right of action; possible punitive damages for aggravated conduct. No statutory treble or fee-shifting under the ACFA. One-year limitations period.