What if the defect first occurs after 12,000 miles?

You may still have a claim, but under other state and federal laws. The federal Magnuson-Moss Act, which is sometimes referred to as the Federal Lemon Law, may provide relief to consumers with vehicles whose first defect occurred after 12,000 miles.  Consumer Protection Law also provides relief similar to that of the Lemon Law. Claims pursued under these statutes are considered Breach of Warranty claims.