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Lemon law in Utah
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New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act, Utah Code §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8. A new vehicle is presumed a lemon in Utah when, during the protection period, the same defect was repaired 4 or more times without a fix, or it was out of service for repairs 30 or more days in total. The protection period is 12 months after delivery, whichever comes first. Leased vehicles are covered. Used vehicles are covered only in some cases.
At a glance
| Protection period | 12 months |
|---|---|
| Repair attempts, same defect | 4 |
| Attempts, serious safety defect | Not set |
| Days out of service | 30 |
| Used vehicles | Some |
| Leased vehicles | Covered |
| State arbitration program | No |
| Time limit to file | See below |
Who qualifies
Which vehicles
New cars, trucks, street motorcycles, and the vehicle and chassis of motor homes sold in Utah. Vehicles with a gross laden weight over 14,000 pounds are excluded, except motor homes and farm tractors.
“any motor vehicle with a gross laden weight of over 14,000 pounds, except:”
le.utah.gov
Repair attempts
The car is presumed a lemon if the same defect has been repaired four or more times within the protection period and still exists.
“the same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer, its agent, or its authorized dealer”
le.utah.gov
Serious safety defects
The law does not say.
Days out of service
The car is presumed a lemon if it is out of service for repairs a total of 30 or more business days during the protection period.
“the vehicle is out of service to the consumer because of repair for a cumulative total of 30 or more business days during the warranty term or during the one-year period, whichever is earlier”
le.utah.gov
Used vehicles
This law covers new vehicles. A person to whom a new vehicle is transferred during the protection period counts as a consumer.
“"Consumer" means an individual who enters into an agreement or contract for the transfer, lease, purchase of a new motor vehicle other than for purposes of resale, or sublease during the duration of the period defined under Section 13-20-5”
le.utah.gov
Leased vehicles
Yes. People who lease a new vehicle are covered.
“"Consumer" means an individual who enters into an agreement or contract for the transfer, lease, purchase of a new motor vehicle other than for purposes of resale”
le.utah.gov
Deadlines
Protection period
The manufacturer's express warranty term or one year after original delivery, whichever ends first.
“within the express warranty term or during the one-year period following the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer, whichever is earlier”
le.utah.gov
Time limit to file
The law sets no specific deadline to sue. Before an owner can sue, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection must investigate and evaluate the claim.
“An action may be commenced by a consumer only after the claim has been investigated and evaluated by the division.”
le.utah.gov
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. The manufacturer's express warranty term or one year after original delivery, whichever ends first. The law sets no specific deadline to sue. Before an owner can sue, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection must investigate and evaluate the claim.
- 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
The owner must report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent, or a dealer during the protection period. The law does not require written notice to the manufacturer or a final repair attempt.
“the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent, or its authorized dealer during the term of the express warranties or during the one-year period following the date of original delivery”
le.utah.gov
Arbitration
If the manufacturer has a dispute program that meets federal rules, the owner must use it first to get a refund or replacement. Utah has no state arbitration program.
“If a manufacturer has established an informal dispute settlement procedure which complies with Title 16, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 703, then Section 13-20-4 concerning refunds or replacement does not apply to any consumer who has not first resorted to this procedure.”
le.utah.gov
What you get
The manufacturer must replace the car with a comparable new one or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including collateral charges, minus a reasonable allowance for the owner's use.
“the manufacturer shall replace the motor vehicle with a comparable new motor vehicle or accept return of the vehicle from the consumer and refund to the consumer the full purchase price including all collateral charges, less a reasonable allowance for the consumer's use of the vehicle”
le.utah.gov
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 (Utah Division of Consumer Protection), then court if you need to.
- Do not sell or trade in the vehicle while the claim is open.
Letter template for Utah
[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 Utah. 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 New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act (Utah Code §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8), 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 Utah
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 Utah's lemon law
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Utah?
The car is presumed a lemon if the same defect has been repaired four or more times within the protection period and still exists.
How many days in the shop make a car a lemon in Utah?
The car is presumed a lemon if it is out of service for repairs a total of 30 or more business days during the protection period.
How long does Utah's lemon law cover a car?
The manufacturer's express warranty term or one year after original delivery, whichever ends first.
Which vehicles does Utah's lemon law cover?
New cars, trucks, street motorcycles, and the vehicle and chassis of motor homes sold in Utah. Vehicles with a gross laden weight over 14,000 pounds are excluded, except motor homes and farm tractors.
Does Utah's lemon law cover used cars?
This law covers new vehicles. A person to whom a new vehicle is transferred during the protection period counts as a consumer.
Does Utah's lemon law cover leased cars?
Yes. People who lease a new vehicle are covered.
Do I have to tell the manufacturer in writing?
The owner must report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent, or a dealer during the protection period. The law does not require written notice to the manufacturer or a final repair attempt.
Do I have to go to arbitration before court?
If the manufacturer has a dispute program that meets federal rules, the owner must use it first to get a refund or replacement. Utah has no state arbitration program.
How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in Utah?
The law sets no specific deadline to sue. Before an owner can sue, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection must investigate and evaluate the claim.
What do I get if my car is a lemon in Utah?
The manufacturer must replace the car with a comparable new one or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including collateral charges, minus a reasonable allowance for the owner's use.
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 Utah lemon law case?
The court may award attorney fees to whichever side wins a lawsuit the owner brings. In Utah, 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 Utah, an owner who wins can make the maker pay the lawyer.
Find a Utah lemon law lawyer
The court may award attorney fees to whichever side wins a lawsuit the owner brings.
“In an action initiated under this section by the consumer, the court may award attorneys' fees to the prevailing party.”
le.utah.gov
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 Utah cases like yours. The firm contacts you, and you decide whether to hire them.
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Sources
- Utah Code §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8, New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act
- Utah Division of Consumer Protection
- 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.