Key takeaways
- New pickups and SUVs sold with a manufacturer's warranty are covered by most state lemon laws, the same as cars.
- Some states cap truck size by weight. Florida excludes trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and Washington excludes trucks with a GVWR of 19,000 pounds or more (Fla. Stat. § 681.102(14); RCW 19.118.021(12)).
- Business use matters in some states. Florida's law covers vehicles used primarily for personal, family or household purposes, while Washington's excludes fleet purchases of ten or more vehicles at one time.
- Federal warranty rules treat a vehicle as a consumer product even if some buyers use it for work, because the test is how that type of product is normally used (16 CFR 700.1(a)).
- Towing past the rated limit can give a manufacturer an argument that a defect came from abuse. Keep records of what you towed.
On this page
New pickups and SUVs are covered by most state lemon laws, the same as cars. The questions that come up more with trucks are about size and use. Some states exclude trucks above a weight rating, and some look at whether you bought the vehicle for personal use or for a business. Towing and modifications also come up, because manufacturers sometimes blame them for the defect.
Are trucks and SUVs covered by lemon laws?
Yes, as a rule. A new truck or SUV sold with the manufacturer's warranty generally fits a state's definition of a covered vehicle.
Florida covers a new vehicle propelled by power other than muscular power and sold in the state "to transport persons or property" (Fla. Stat. § 681.102(14)). Washington covers a new self-propelled vehicle "primarily designed for the transportation of persons or property over the public highways" (RCW 19.118.021(12)). Pickups and SUVs fit both.
The exceptions come from weight caps and from how the vehicle is used. Those are the next two sections. Leased trucks are covered in many states as well; see leased vehicles.
Do lemon laws limit truck size?
Some do, using weight. The two example states set very different caps.
| State | Weight limit in the lemon law | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Excludes "trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight" | Fla. Stat. § 681.102(14) |
| Washington | Excludes "trucks with nineteen thousand pounds or more gross vehicle weight rating" | RCW 19.118.021(12) |
GVWR is the gross vehicle weight rating, the most the manufacturer says the loaded vehicle should weigh. It isn't the empty weight. Federal rules require the GVWR on the certification label, which is fixed to the driver's door hinge pillar, door-latch post or door edge, or nearby if those spots don't work (49 CFR 567.4).
If you drive a heavy-duty pickup, a chassis cab or a dually, check the label before you assume you're covered. Then check your state's page.
Does business use affect a lemon law claim?
In some states, yes. States split on whether business use matters and how.
- Personal-use test. Florida defines a "consumer" as a buyer or lessee of a vehicle "primarily used for personal, family, or household purposes" (Fla. Stat. § 681.102(4)). A truck used mostly for a business may fall outside.
- Fleet test. Washington doesn't require personal use. Its "consumer" is anyone who buys or leases a new vehicle other than for resale or sublease (RCW 19.118.021(4)). But it excludes vehicles bought or leased by a business "as part of a fleet of ten or more vehicles at one time or under a single purchase or lease agreement" (RCW 19.118.021(12)).
So the same work truck could be inside one state's law and outside another's. Who holds the title, what the truck is used for, and how many vehicles were bought together can all matter. Gather the purchase contract and registration before you decide.
What about federal warranty law for work trucks?
Federal law may still help. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act covers "consumer products," property "normally used for personal, family, or household purposes" (15 U.S.C. § 2301(1)).
The FTC's rule on this says a product counts "if the use of that type of product is not uncommon," and that the use "to which a product is put by any individual buyer is not determinative." It names automobiles as an example of products used for both personal and commercial purposes that still fall within the definition (16 CFR 700.1(a)). Whether a business buyer is a "consumer" who can sue is a separate question. The Act defines a consumer as a buyer "other than for purposes of resale," plus some later owners and others the warranty or state law lets enforce it (15 U.S.C. § 2301(3)). Read more on our Magnuson-Moss page.
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 about upfits, lifts and work bodies?
They can bring in another manufacturer, or they can give the truck maker a defense. It depends on who installed the equipment and when.
Florida's definition of "manufacturer" includes a company that "manufactures or installs on previously assembled truck or recreational vehicle chassis special bodies or equipment which, when installed, forms an integral part of the motor vehicle" (Fla. Stat. § 681.102(13)). A service body or box upfit can fit that wording.
Washington's definition includes a "postmanufacturing modifier" that modifies a new vehicle before its first retail sale or lease, to the extent the change affects the vehicle's use, value or safety (RCW 19.118.021(8)).
The other side: both states exclude defects caused by modification. Washington leaves out defects from "unauthorized modification or alteration." Florida leaves out defects from "modification, or alteration of the motor vehicle by persons other than the manufacturer or its authorized service agent." A lift kit or a tuner added after the sale gives the manufacturer something to point at. Keep receipts and installation records for anything added.
How do towing and drivetrain defects fit a claim?
They fit like any other warranty defect, as long as the problem keeps coming back and seriously affects use, value or safety. Both example states use the phrase "substantially impairs the use, value, or safety."
Examples of defects that can fit:
- Transmission shudder, slipping or harsh shifts, especially when loaded or towing
- Four-wheel-drive or transfer case that won't engage or won't release
- Engine power loss, overheating or limp mode while towing
- Brake controller, trailer wiring or trailer-sway faults
- Driver-assist systems that brake or steer when they shouldn't
Towing is a place manufacturers may push back. Florida and Washington both exclude defects caused by abuse or neglect, and towing over the rated limits can give a manufacturer that argument. Protect yourself:
- Know your truck's towing and payload ratings from the owner's manual and door label.
- Keep scale tickets or trailer weight records for heavy loads.
- Follow the severe-duty maintenance schedule if you tow often, and keep the receipts.
- Describe the problem to the service advisor with the load details: "Shudders between 35 and 45 mph, empty and with a 6,000-pound trailer."
Our guide on what to say at the dealership helps you get the complaint written down right. For how many visits states tend to count, see repair attempts. To check whether your truck qualifies at all, start with does my vehicle qualify.
What records help a truck or SUV claim?
The same records any owner keeps, plus proof of how the truck was used. These answer the questions a manufacturer is most likely to raise.
- The purchase or lease contract, and the registration showing who owns the truck
- The window sticker and a photo of the door certification label with the GVWR
- Receipts for any upfit, lift, tow package or accessory, with who installed it and when
- Maintenance receipts, especially fluid changes if you tow
- Every repair order, with the date in and out, mileage and your complaint in your words
- Short videos of the defect, filmed safely by a passenger or while parked
Our guide on how to document repair visits includes a log table you can copy.
Frequently asked questions
Does the lemon law cover pickup trucks?
Yes, in most states, if the truck is new, came with a manufacturer's warranty and fits the state's definition. Weight is the usual limit. Florida's law excludes trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and Washington's excludes trucks with a GVWR of 19,000 pounds or more. Heavy-duty pickups and chassis cabs are the ones to check most carefully. Look at the certification label on the driver's door edge or door frame. Federal rules require it to show the GVWR.
What is GVWR and why does it matter for a lemon law claim?
GVWR is the gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum loaded weight the manufacturer says the vehicle is built to carry, including passengers and cargo. It's not what the truck weighs empty. Some lemon laws use it to set a size cap. Washington excludes trucks rated at 19,000 pounds or more. Florida excludes trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Federal rules require the GVWR on the certification label near the driver's door (49 CFR 567.4). Read that label before you assume your truck is in or out.
I use my truck for my business. Am I still covered?
It depends on the state. Some state laws only protect consumers who use the vehicle mainly for personal, family or household purposes. Florida's law is written that way. Others look at the buyer differently. Washington's law doesn't require personal use, but it excludes vehicles bought by a business as part of a fleet of ten or more at one time or under a single agreement. If your truck is titled to a company or used mostly for work, check your state's definitions before you rely on the lemon law.
Can Magnuson-Moss help if my work truck isn't covered by the lemon law?
It may. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act applies to consumer products, and the FTC's rule says the test is whether that type of product is normally used for personal purposes, not how one buyer uses it. The rule names automobiles as an example of products used for both personal and commercial purposes that still count (16 CFR 700.1(a)). Who counts as a 'consumer' who can sue is a separate question under the Act's own definition in 15 U.S.C. § 2301(3). Ask a lawyer to look at your purchase papers.
Does towing void my truck's warranty?
Towing within the manufacturer's ratings is normal use. Towing over the ratings is where problems start. State lemon laws like Florida's and Washington's exclude defects caused by abuse or neglect, and a manufacturer may argue that overloading caused a transmission or brake failure. Keep your trailer's weight records or scale tickets, and follow the owner's manual for maintenance under heavy use. If a dealer blames towing, ask them to write down the reason and what they found on the repair order.
Are lift kits and aftermarket upfits a problem?
They can be. A dealer-installed lift, tonneau or service body may be covered by a separate warranty, or by none. Florida's law treats a company that installs special bodies or equipment on a truck chassis as a manufacturer when the equipment becomes an integral part of the vehicle. Washington's law covers some modifications made before the first retail sale. But both states exclude defects caused by modification by others. Before you add parts to a truck that's having problems, talk to a lawyer about how it could affect your claim.
What truck and SUV defects show up in lemon law claims?
Any warranty defect that keeps coming back can matter. Examples include transmission shudder or hard shifts, four-wheel-drive that won't engage or disengage, engine power loss, coolant or oil leaks, electrical faults, and driver-assist systems that brake for no reason. What matters is whether the warranty covers it, whether it substantially impairs use, value or safety, and how many repair attempts your state counts. Check your state's page for the numbers.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 681.102 (definitions: consumer, manufacturer, motor vehicle, nonconformity)
- RCW 19.118.021 (Washington definitions: consumer, manufacturer, new motor vehicle, nonconformity)
- 16 CFR 700.1 (FTC: products covered by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act)
- 49 CFR 567.4 (vehicle certification label requirements)
- 15 U.S.C. § 2301 (Magnuson-Moss definitions)
- 15 U.S.C. § 2310 (remedies in consumer disputes)