Key takeaways
- Protection period: the shorter of the express warranty term or 2 years or 24,000 miles after original delivery, whichever is earlier.
- Repair attempts: the same nonconformity subject to repair 4 or more times within the protection period and it continues to exist.
- Days out of service: out of service for repair a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days within the protection period.
- Deadline: within 6 months after the earlier of the end of the express warranty term or 2 years or 24,000 miles from original delivery.
- The law is Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 44-1261 to 44-1267. Read it with your repair orders and your warranty in front of you.
On this page
Arizona's lemon law is Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 44-1261 to 44-1267, the Arizona Motor Vehicle Warranties (Lemon Law), A.R.S. Title 44, Chapter 9, Article 5. It gives owners a remedy when the manufacturer can't fix a warranty defect after a fair chance. This page sums up the main rules as written in the statute, with links to the official text. Use it to check your dates and your repair visits, then talk to a lawyer about your own records.
Arizona lemon law at a glance
| Statute | Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 44-1261 to 44-1267 |
|---|---|
| Official name | Arizona Motor Vehicle Warranties (Lemon Law), A.R.S. Title 44, Chapter 9, Article 5 |
| Vehicles covered | Self-propelled vehicles designed primarily to carry persons or property on public highways. For motor homes, only the vehicle and chassis are covered, not the living, office or commercial space. Excludes vehicles over 10,000 pounds declared gross weight, vehicles bought for resale and vehicles sold at public auction. |
| Leased vehicles | Yes, leased vehicles are covered. |
| Protection period | The shorter of the express warranty term or 2 years or 24,000 miles after original delivery, whichever is earlier. |
| Repair attempts | The same nonconformity subject to repair 4 or more times within the protection period and it continues to exist. |
| Days out of service | Out of service for repair a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days within the protection period. |
| Notice to the manufacturer | The presumption applies only if the manufacturer received prior direct written notice of the defect from or for the consumer and had an opportunity to cure it. |
| Dispute programs | If the manufacturer has or takes part in an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, the consumer must use it first before the refund or replacement remedy applies. |
| Deadline to bring a claim | Within 6 months after the earlier of the end of the express warranty term or 2 years or 24,000 miles from original delivery. |
| Remedies | A new replacement vehicle, or return of the vehicle with a refund of the full purchase price including collateral charges, less a reasonable allowance for use. The allowance covers use before the first written report of the nonconformity and use while the vehicle was not out of service for repair. |
| Attorney's fees | Yes. If a consumer prevails, the court shall award reasonable costs and attorney fees. |
| Used vehicles | Yes, in two ways. A person who gets the vehicle during the express warranty is a 'consumer'. Separately, § 44-1267 gives used-vehicle buyers from a used motor vehicle dealer an implied warranty of merchantability of 15 days or 500 miles, whichever is earlier. |
Does your vehicle qualify in Arizona?
The law covers self-propelled vehicles designed primarily to carry persons or property on public highways. For motor homes, only the vehicle and chassis are covered, not the living, office or commercial space. Excludes vehicles over 10,000 pounds declared gross weight, vehicles bought for resale and vehicles sold at public auction. The protection period is the shorter of the express warranty term or 2 years or 24,000 miles after original delivery, whichever is earlier. Inside that window, the statute presumes the manufacturer has had a fair chance to fix the problem when one of these is true:
- Repeated repairs: The same nonconformity subject to repair 4 or more times within the protection period and it continues to exist.
- Days out of service: Out of service for repair a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days within the protection period.
As with most lemon laws, the defect generally has to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty and serious enough to substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety; check the statute's exact wording. Count only visits for the same problem, and check each repair order for your complaint, the dates in and out, and the mileage. See what counts as a repair attempt.
Notice, dispute programs and deadlines
The presumption applies only if the manufacturer received prior direct written notice of the defect from or for the consumer and had an opportunity to cure it.
If the manufacturer has or takes part in an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, the consumer must use it first before the refund or replacement remedy applies.
Deadline: Within 6 months after the earlier of the end of the express warranty term or 2 years or 24,000 miles from original delivery.
Deadlines can run out before you expect, and contacting a lawyer does not stop them. Read more about lemon law deadlines and notice to the manufacturer.
Questions about your vehicle's repair history?
Tell us what has happened with your vehicle. A member of our team will look at your dates and repair orders with you. Reaching out does not create an attorney-client relationship.
What you can recover
A new replacement vehicle, or return of the vehicle with a refund of the full purchase price including collateral charges, less a reasonable allowance for use. The allowance covers use before the first written report of the nonconformity and use while the vehicle was not out of service for repair. Yes. If a consumer prevails, the court shall award reasonable costs and attorney fees. Many claims are also resolved by a negotiated settlement. See buyback and replacement.
Federal warranty law also applies
The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 2301–2312) applies in every state. It covers written and implied warranties on consumer products, including vehicles, and it can help when a vehicle falls outside Arizona's lemon law, for example some used vehicles sold with a warranty or a service contract.
Talk to us about your Arizona vehicle
SkyRidge Law P.C. reviews lemon law questions from owners in every state. Lawyers may practice only where they are licensed or otherwise authorized, so before you sign anything we tell you which lawyer would handle your case and where that lawyer is licensed. Send us your repair history and we will look at your dates with you.
Frequently asked questions
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Arizona?
Under Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 44-1261 to 44-1267, the presumption is met when the same nonconformity subject to repair 4 or more times within the protection period and it continues to exist. The law also counts time in the shop: out of service for repair a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days within the protection period.
How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in Arizona?
Within 6 months after the earlier of the end of the express warranty term or 2 years or 24,000 miles from original delivery. Other deadlines, such as the protection period and any notice or dispute-program step, can run out first, so check your dates early. Contacting a lawyer does not stop the clock.
Does the Arizona lemon law cover used cars?
Yes, in two ways. A person who gets the vehicle during the express warranty is a 'consumer'. Separately, § 44-1267 gives used-vehicle buyers from a used motor vehicle dealer an implied warranty of merchantability of 15 days or 500 miles, whichever is earlier. Even when the state lemon law does not apply, a used vehicle sold with a written warranty or a service contract may have rights under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Does the Arizona lemon law cover leased vehicles?
Yes, leased vehicles are covered. Lease buybacks usually involve both you and the leasing company, so keep your lease agreement with your repair orders.
Do I have to notify the manufacturer in Arizona?
The presumption applies only if the manufacturer received prior direct written notice of the defect from or for the consumer and had an opportunity to cure it. Keep a copy of anything you send and proof of delivery.
Do I have to go to arbitration in Arizona?
If the manufacturer has or takes part in an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, the consumer must use it first before the refund or replacement remedy applies.
Can I recover attorney's fees under the Arizona lemon law?
Yes. If a consumer prevails, the court shall award reasonable costs and attorney fees. We explain exactly how fees work in your case before you sign anything.