Do you own a lemon?

To be eligible under the Arizona Lemon Law, the vehicle must be new, purchased or leased in Arizona, and covered by the manufacturer's warranty. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer must have been given a reasonable number of repair attempts.

Under the Arizona Lemon Law, a reasonable number of repair attempts typically means four or more attempts to fix the same defect, or the vehicle being out of service for repair for a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days within the warranty period or two years after the date of purchase.

Defects that substantially impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety qualify under the Arizona Lemon Law. This includes issues that make the vehicle unreliable or unsafe to drive, or significantly reduce its market value.

You must notify the manufacturer in writing about the defect and provide them with a final opportunity to repair it. The notice should include your name, address, contact information, vehicle details, a detailed description of the defect, and copies of repair orders and invoices.

If the manufacturer disputes your claim, you may need to pursue arbitration or legal action. The Arizona Lemon Law provides for arbitration programs approved by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to resolve disputes between consumers and manufacturers.

No, the Arizona Lemon Law does not apply if the defect is due to unauthorized modifications by the consumer. The vehicle must be maintained properly and not altered without the manufacturer's authorization.

If your vehicle is determined to be a lemon, you may be entitled to a replacement vehicle of comparable value or a refund of the purchase price, minus a reasonable allowance for use. The allowance for use is calculated based on the number of miles driven before the defect was reported.