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Lemon law in Arkansas
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Arkansas New Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act, Ark. Code §§ 4-90-401 to 4-90-417. A new vehicle is presumed a lemon in Arkansas when, during the protection period, the same defect was repaired 3 or more times without a fix, or a defect that could cause death or serious injury was repaired 1 or more times, or it was out of service for repairs 30 or more days in total. The protection period is 24 months or 24,000 miles after delivery, whichever comes first. Leased vehicles are covered. Used vehicles are covered only in some cases.
At a glance
| Protection period | 24 months or 24,000 miles |
|---|---|
| Repair attempts, same defect | 3 |
| Attempts, serious safety defect | 1 |
| Days out of service | 30 |
| Used vehicles | Some |
| Leased vehicles | Covered |
| State arbitration program | No |
| Time limit to file | 2 years after first reporting the defect to the manufacturer or dealer |
Who qualifies
Which vehicles
Cars, trucks, and other road vehicles bought, leased, or licensed in Arkansas. Mopeds, motorcycles, the living quarters of motor homes, and vehicles over 13,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating are not covered, but the weight limit does not apply to motor homes.
“"Motor vehicle" or "vehicle" does not include: (i) Mopeds; (ii) Motorcycles; (iii) The living facilities of a motor home; (iv) (a) Vehicles over thirteen thousand pounds (13,000 lbs.) gross vehicle weight rating.”
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Repair attempts
After three repair attempts for the same defect, the owner must give the manufacturer a final chance to fix it. If the defect still exists after that, the car is presumed a lemon.
“After three (3) attempts have been made to repair the same nonconformity that substantially impairs the motor vehicle”
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Serious safety defects
For a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, one repair attempt is enough before the owner gives the manufacturer its final chance to fix it.
“after one (1) attempt to repair a nonconformity that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury”
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Days out of service
The car is presumed a lemon if it is out of service for repairs a total of 30 calendar days.
“The vehicle is out of service by reason of repair, or attempt to repair, any nonconformity for a cumulative total of thirty (30) calendar days”
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Used vehicles
This law covers new or previously untitled vehicles. A later owner who can enforce the warranty during the 24-month or 24,000-mile period is also covered.
“"Consumer" means the purchaser or lessee, other than for the purposes of lease or resale, of a new or previously untitled motor vehicle or any other person entitled to enforce the obligations of the warranty during the duration of the motor vehicle quality assurance period”
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Leased vehicles
Yes, for leases of one year or more where the person leasing is responsible for repairs.
“"Lessee" means any consumer who leases a motor vehicle for one (1) year or more pursuant to a written lease agreement which provides that the lessee is responsible for repairs to the motor vehicle”
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Deadlines
Protection period
24 months after original delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever ends later.
“Ends twenty-four (24) months after the date of the original delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer, or the first twenty-four thousand (24,000) miles of operation attributable to the consumer, whichever is later”
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Time limit to file
A lawsuit must be filed within two years after the owner first reports the defect to the manufacturer or dealer.
“An action brought under this subchapter must be commenced within two (2) years following the date the buyer first reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent, or authorized dealer.”
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Steps
- Keep every repair order. Each visit to the dealer should give you a work order with the date, the mileage, what you reported and what they did. Ask for one every time, even when they find nothing. These papers are your case.
- Check the dates. 24 months after original delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever ends later. A lawsuit must be filed within two years after the owner first reports the defect to the manufacturer or dealer.
- Tell the manufacturer in writing. The law asks for written notice. See written notice below.
- Use the dispute program if one is required. See arbitration below for whether you must go there before court.
- Ask for a refund or a replacement, or file. Send the letter, then file before the time limit if the manufacturer will not buy the vehicle back or replace it.
Written notice
Yes. The owner must notify the manufacturer in writing by certified or registered mail and give it a final chance to repair the defect.
“the consumer shall give written notification, by certified or registered mail, to the manufacturer of the need to repair the nonconformity in order to allow the manufacturer a final attempt to cure the nonconformity”
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Arbitration
If the manufacturer gave the required written statement of rights, the owner must use the manufacturer's informal dispute program before suing.
“A consumer shall utilize the informal dispute settlement proceeding provided for in this subchapter prior to bringing any legal action to enforce the consumer's rights under this subchapter, if the manufacturer has made the disclosure required by subsection (b) of this section.”
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What you get
The manufacturer must replace the car or buy it back and refund the full purchase or lease price, minus a reasonable deduction for use and for any physical damage while the owner had it.
“Repurchase the motor vehicle from the consumer or lessor and refund to the consumer or lessor the full purchase price or lease price, less a reasonable offset for use and less a reasonable offset for physical damage sustained to the vehicle while under the ownership of the consumer.”
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Do it yourself
You can bring a lemon law claim without a lawyer. It takes letters, records and patience. The usual route:
- Put your repair orders in date order and count the attempts and the days out of service.
- Send the manufacturer the letter below, by a tracked method, to the address in your owner's manual or warranty booklet.
- If it offers a final repair, let it try within the time the law gives it.
- If it refuses or does not answer, file with the manufacturer's dispute program or the state program (Arkansas Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division), then court if you need to.
- Do not sell or trade in the vehicle while the claim is open.
Letter template for Arkansas
[Your name] [Your address] [Date] [Manufacturer name] [Address from your owner's manual or warranty booklet] Re: Lemon law claim, [year make model], VIN [VIN] I bought (or leased) this vehicle on [date] from [dealer], in Arkansas. It has a defect that the dealer has not been able to fix: [describe it in one or two sentences]. It has been in for repair of this defect [number] times, on [dates], and out of service for a total of [number] days. Copies of the repair orders are enclosed. Under Arkansas New Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act (Ark. Code §§ 4-90-401 to 4-90-417), I ask you to repurchase or replace the vehicle. Please reply in writing within 15 days. I can bring the vehicle in for a final repair attempt if the law gives you one. [Your name] [Phone and email]
What a buyback pays in Arkansas
The law asks for a reasonable allowance for your use without a fixed formula. Makers and courts often use the one several states write into law: the price times the miles driven before the first repair visit for the defect, divided by 120,000. For a $40,000 car with 6,000 miles at the first repair and 15,000 now, that is about $2,000.
Questions people ask about Arkansas's lemon law
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Arkansas?
After three repair attempts for the same defect, the owner must give the manufacturer a final chance to fix it. If the defect still exists after that, the car is presumed a lemon.
What if the defect could cause a crash or an injury?
For a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, one repair attempt is enough before the owner gives the manufacturer its final chance to fix it.
How many days in the shop make a car a lemon in Arkansas?
The car is presumed a lemon if it is out of service for repairs a total of 30 calendar days.
How long does Arkansas's lemon law cover a car?
24 months after original delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever ends later.
Which vehicles does Arkansas's lemon law cover?
Cars, trucks, and other road vehicles bought, leased, or licensed in Arkansas. Mopeds, motorcycles, the living quarters of motor homes, and vehicles over 13,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating are not covered, but the weight limit does not apply to motor homes.
Does Arkansas's lemon law cover used cars?
This law covers new or previously untitled vehicles. A later owner who can enforce the warranty during the 24-month or 24,000-mile period is also covered.
Does Arkansas's lemon law cover leased cars?
Yes, for leases of one year or more where the person leasing is responsible for repairs.
Do I have to tell the manufacturer in writing?
Yes. The owner must notify the manufacturer in writing by certified or registered mail and give it a final chance to repair the defect.
Do I have to go to arbitration before court?
If the manufacturer gave the required written statement of rights, the owner must use the manufacturer's informal dispute program before suing.
How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in Arkansas?
A lawsuit must be filed within two years after the owner first reports the defect to the manufacturer or dealer.
What do I get if my car is a lemon in Arkansas?
The manufacturer must replace the car or buy it back and refund the full purchase or lease price, minus a reasonable deduction for use and for any physical damage while the owner had it.
How much is taken off a buyback for the miles I drove?
The law asks for a reasonable allowance for your use without a fixed formula. Makers and courts often use the one several states write into law: the price times the miles driven before the first repair visit for the defect, divided by 120,000. For a $40,000 car with 6,000 miles at the first repair and 15,000 now, that is about $2,000.
Who pays the lawyer in a Arkansas lemon law case?
An owner who wins can recover costs and expenses, including attorney fees based on actual time spent. In Arkansas, an owner who wins can make the maker pay the lawyer.
Can I keep driving my car during a lemon law claim?
Usually, yes. Keep it maintained and insured, and do not sell or trade it in while the claim is open: a buyback needs the car. If the defect makes it unsafe, stop driving it and tell the dealer and the maker in writing.
Do I need a lawyer for a lemon law claim?
No. You can bring a claim yourself. The steps and a letter template are on this page. A lawyer knows what makers offer in cases like yours and what the use deduction should be. In Arkansas, an owner who wins can make the maker pay the lawyer.
Find a Arkansas lemon law lawyer
An owner who wins can recover costs and expenses, including attorney fees based on actual time spent.
“A consumer who prevails in any legal proceeding under this subchapter is entitled to recover as part of the judgment a sum equal to the aggregate amount of costs and expenses, including attorney's fees based upon actual time expended by the attorney”
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Because the manufacturer usually pays the lawyer's fees when you win, most lemon law lawyers charge you nothing up front. A lawyer also knows what the manufacturer offers in cases like yours and what the use deduction should be.
Send the free case check below and we find a lemon law firm that takes Arkansas cases like yours. The firm contacts you, and you decide whether to hire them.
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Who pays the lawyer? In Arkansas, an owner who wins can make the maker pay the lawyer.* * So most lemon law lawyers ask nothing up front. Some charge costs, or a share of a settlement: ask before you sign. You never pay us. More
Sources
- Ark. Code §§ 4-90-401 to 4-90-417, Arkansas New Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act
- Arkansas Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2310, the federal warranty law that also lets owners recover attorney fees.
Each quote above is copied from the page it links to, checked 2026-10-26. If a page has moved, the citation still finds the law.