Key takeaways
- Protection period: term of the express warranty or one year after original delivery, whichever is earlier.
- Repair attempts: same nonconformity subject to repair four or more times within the protection period and it continues to exist.
- Days out of service: cumulative total of 30 or more business days during the warranty term or the one-year period, whichever is earlier.
- The law is Utah Code Ann. §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8. Read it with your repair orders and your warranty in front of you.
On this page
Utah's lemon law is Utah Code Ann. §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8, the New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act. 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.
Utah lemon law at a glance
| Statute | Utah Code Ann. §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8 |
|---|---|
| Official name | New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act |
| Vehicles covered | New motor vehicles sold in Utah, including motorcycles designed primarily for paved highways and the self-propelled vehicle and chassis of motor homes. Excludes motor home living/office space, road and truck tractors, mobile homes, vehicles over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight (except motor homes and farm tractors), off-road motorcycles, e-bikes, mopeds and motor assisted scooters. |
| Leased vehicles | Yes, leased vehicles are covered. |
| Protection period | Term of the express warranty or one year after original delivery, whichever is earlier. |
| Repair attempts | Same nonconformity subject to repair four or more times within the protection period and it continues to exist. |
| Days out of service | Cumulative total of 30 or more business days during the warranty term or the one-year period, whichever is earlier. |
| Notice to the manufacturer | The consumer must report the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent or dealer within the protection period. A consumer may sue only after the claim has been investigated and evaluated by the Division of Consumer Protection. |
| Dispute programs | If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, the consumer must use it first to get refund or replacement. New recreational vehicle trailers with roof, subfloor or wall defects after four repair attempts go to mandatory mediation through the Consumer Arbitration Program for Recreation Vehicles, paid by the manufacturer. |
| Remedies | Replacement with a comparable new vehicle, or refund of the full purchase price including all collateral charges, less a reasonable allowance for use before the first report of the nonconformity and while not out of service for repair. |
| Attorney's fees | Yes, but two-way: in an action brought by the consumer, the court may award attorneys' fees to the prevailing party. |
| Used vehicles | No used-car lemon law. The consumer definition covers new-vehicle buyers and lessees and a sublease during the presumption period. |
Does your vehicle qualify in Utah?
The law covers new motor vehicles sold in Utah, including motorcycles designed primarily for paved highways and the self-propelled vehicle and chassis of motor homes. Excludes motor home living/office space, road and truck tractors, mobile homes, vehicles over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight (except motor homes and farm tractors), off-road motorcycles, e-bikes, mopeds and motor assisted scooters. The protection period is term of the express warranty or one year 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: Same nonconformity subject to repair four or more times within the protection period and it continues to exist.
- Days out of service: Cumulative total of 30 or more business days during the warranty term or the one-year period, whichever is earlier.
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 consumer must report the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent or dealer within the protection period. A consumer may sue only after the claim has been investigated and evaluated by the Division of Consumer Protection.
If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, the consumer must use it first to get refund or replacement. New recreational vehicle trailers with roof, subfloor or wall defects after four repair attempts go to mandatory mediation through the Consumer Arbitration Program for Recreation Vehicles, paid by the manufacturer.
State resource: Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Consumer Protection.
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
Replacement with a comparable new vehicle, or refund of the full purchase price including all collateral charges, less a reasonable allowance for use before the first report of the nonconformity and while not out of service for repair. Yes, but two-way: in an action brought by the consumer, the court may award attorneys' fees to the prevailing party. 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 Utah's lemon law, for example some used vehicles sold with a warranty or a service contract.
Talk to us about your Utah 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 Utah?
Under Utah Code Ann. §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8, the presumption is met when same nonconformity subject to repair four or more times within the protection period and it continues to exist. The law also counts time in the shop: cumulative total of 30 or more business days during the warranty term or the one-year period, whichever is earlier.
Does the Utah lemon law cover used cars?
No used-car lemon law. The consumer definition covers new-vehicle buyers and lessees and a sublease during the presumption period. 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 Utah 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 Utah?
The consumer must report the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent or dealer within the protection period. A consumer may sue only after the claim has been investigated and evaluated by the Division of Consumer Protection. Keep a copy of anything you send and proof of delivery.
Do I have to go to arbitration in Utah?
If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, the consumer must use it first to get refund or replacement. New recreational vehicle trailers with roof, subfloor or wall defects after four repair attempts go to mandatory mediation through the Consumer Arbitration Program for Recreation Vehicles, paid by the manufacturer.
Can I recover attorney's fees under the Utah lemon law?
Yes, but two-way: in an action brought by the consumer, the court may award attorneys' fees to the prevailing party. We explain exactly how fees work in your case before you sign anything.