CT Lemon Law Statutes

Connecticut Lemon Law Qualifications

Vehicles Covered

The Connecticut lemon law applies to passenger motor vehicles, passenger/commercial motor vehicles, and motorcycles that are sold or leased in the state.

"Passenger motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle:

  • Used for the private transportation of persons and their personal belongings;
  • Designed to carry occupants in comfort and safety;
  • With not less than 50% of the total area enclosed by the outermost body contour lines, excluding the area enclosing the engine, as seen in a plain view, utilized for designated seating positi ons and necessary legroom; and
  • With a capacity of carrying not more than 10 passengers including the operator.

"Passenger and commercial motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle used for private passenger and commercial purposes that is eligible for combination registration.

"Combination registration" means the type of registration issued to a motor vehicle used for both private passenger and commercial purposes if the vehicle does not have a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of ten thousand pounds.

Consumers Covered

The lemon law covers the following consumers:

  • The purchaser, other than for purposes of resale, of a motor vehicle;
  • A lessee of a motor vehicle;
  • Any person to whom the motor vehicle is transferred during the duration of an express warranty app licable to the motor vehicle; and
  • Any person entitled by the terms of an express warranty applicable to a motor vehicle to enforce the warranty obligations.

Vehicle Converters

The lemon law does not apply to vehicle converters.

Problems Covered

The lemon l aw covers any defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, safety or value of the motor vehicle to the consumer. This is referred to as a nonconformity.

The lemon law provides manufacturers with an affirmative defense if it can be shown that a nonconformity is the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modifications or alterations of the motor vehicle by a consumer.

Reasonable Number Of Repair Attempts

The Connecticut lemon law establishes a presumption that a reasonable number of attempts has been undertaken to conform a motor vehicle to the applicable express warranties if any of the following occurs:

  1. During the period of two years following the date of the motor vehicle's original delivery to a consumer or the first 24,000 miles of operation, whichever occurs first, either:
    • the same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer, its agents or authorized dealers, but the nonconformity continues to exist; or
    • the motor vehicle is out of service by reason of repair for a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days.
  2. Within the express warranty term or during the period of one year following the date of the motor vehicle's original delivery to a consumer whichever occurs first:
    • the vehicle has a nonconformity that results in a condition likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven;
    • the nonconformity has been subject to repair at least twice by the manufacturer, its agents or authorized dealers; and
    • the nonconformity continues to exist.

The two year, 30 day, and one year period, and the term of an express warranty, are extended by any period of time during which repair services are not available to the consumer because of war, invasion, strike or fire, flood or other natural disaster.

Connecticut Arbitration Requirements

The lemon law provisions requiring repurchase or replacement of a nonconforming motor vehicle do not apply to a consumer who has not first used an informal dispute settlement procedure that has been certified by the Attorney General as complying with 16 C.F.R. Part 702 and the lemon law. If the manufacturer has not established an informal dispute settlement procedure that has been certified by the Attorney General, the consumer may request arbitration through the procedure established by the Department of Consumer Protection.

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