Recalls & Defects

What is the Purpose of Idaho’s Lemon Law?

Commonly known as a “lemon law,” Idaho’s New Motor Vehicle Warranties statute was enacted to help protect you when you buy or lease a car, truck, or van that is subject to an applicable manufacturer’s written warranty. Nothing in Idaho’s lemon law limits or affects your rights or remedies under other laws.

Does the Law Cover My Vehicle?

Idaho’s lemon law covers vehicle “nonconformities,” which include defects or conditions that impair the vehicle’s use or market value. The law does not cover nonconformities resulting from abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications or alterations of the vehicle.

The law applies only to vehicles that have a manufacturer’s written warranty and that meet the following three requirements:

1. The vehicle was purchased or licensed in Idaho;
2. The vehicle weighs 12,000 lbs. or less; and
3. The vehicle is used primarily for personal business reasons or for individual, family, or household purposes.

How Soon Must I Report the Defect?

Immediateely report any defect to the manufacturer or authorized dealer because the lemon law only covers your vehicle until one of three events occurs. These events are:

1. The expiration of the written warranty;
2. The vehicle is driven 24,000 miles; or
3. Two years from the date of delivery passes.

For example, if you drove 24,000 miles in six months and did not report the defect until the seventh month of ownership, your vehicle is no longer a “lemon” under Idaho law. In this situation, even if you have five years left on your warranty, the lemon law does not give you additional time to report a defect. Therefore, promptly notifying the manufacturer of the defect is crucial if you want to utilize the lemon law.

What is the Manufacturer’s Duty to Repair My Lemon?

Under Idaho’s lemon law, the manufacturer or its authorized dealers must repair your vehicle according to the warranty if:

1. Your vehicle does not conform to the written warranty; and
2. You meet the reporting time limitations discussed in the previous section.

If you meet these two requirements, but for some reason the repairs are not concluded until after the warranty expires or after two years from the delivery date passes, the manufacturer remains obligated to complete the repairs.

When is the Manufacturer Required to Refund or Replace My Lemon?

Idaho’s lemon law has special refund and replacement provisions for vehicles with substantial defects. If the manufacturer or its authorized dealers cannot repair or correct a vehicle’s nonconformity after a “reasonable number of attempts,” the manufacturer must either:

1. Replace the vehicle with a comparable one; or
2. Refund the vehicle’s purchase price. However, the manufacturer may subtract from the refund a reasonable amount to cover the vehicle’s use.

The number of “reasonable attempts” to repair a vehicle varies depending on the seriousness of the defect and the time it takes to repair it. Manufacturers always have at least one opportunity to repair a defect. The “reasonable number of attempts” requirement is considered satisfied if the warranty has expired, or two years from the delivery date have passed, or the vehicle has exceeded 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first, and one of the following conditions is met:

• The manufacturer has made four or more attempts to repair the same defect, but is unsuccessful; or
• One unsuccessful repair attempt results in the complete failure of the steering or braking system, and the failure likely would cause death or serious bodily injury; or
• Repairs have made the vehicle unavailable for 30 or more business days.

You also may request a refund or vehicle replacement if you reported the defect during the term of the express warranty, and the manufacturer is unable to repair the defect within three years of the date of delivery.

< Back