The Arizona lemon law dictates that a vehicle with a serious operational or safety defect, or multiple defects that put it out of commission for an extended period, must be repaired to satisfactory condition within a reasonable number of attempts or days.
If repair is not possible, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle with an identical vehicle or accept a return of the vehicle for the original purchase price.
Arizona Lemon Law Rules for New Cars
Arizona’s lemon law is largely geared toward new vehicles with valid manufacturer warranties still attached.
This means it applies to all new vehicles sold at car lots.
Lemon Law Requirements for New Vehicles
The lemon law applies in Arizona if:
- The vehicle is still under the original manufacturer’s warranty.
- The problems with the vehicle begin within two years and 24,000 miles of purchase.
- The issue you are having with the vehicle “substantially impairs” the use, value, or safety of the vehicle.
- The vehicle came with the issue. (i.e. You didn’t drive it off the lot and immediately sideswipe a curb, jacking up the running board or suspension.)
If your car meets the definition of a “lemon” in Arizona, the car dealership/manufacturer is required to do one of the following things:
- Repair the car within a reasonable number of attempts
- Repair the car within a reasonable number of days
- Replace the car with an identical or equivalent vehicle that is acceptable to you
- Allow you to return the car for a full refund (minus a “reasonable allowance” for time used prior to the 1st repair attempt)
Repair the car within a reasonable number of attempts
What constitutes a reasonable number of attempts to repair a vehicle in Arizona is four (4).
In the case of issues that can cause death or serious injury, federal law reduces this number to two (2), one attempt plus one final attempt.
If the dealer/manufacturer cannot repair the vehicle after four attempts (two in the case of an issue that can lead to serious injury or death) it must allow you to return the car for an identical (or comparable) vehicle or refund.
Repair the car within a reasonable number of days
What constitutes a reasonable number of days in Arizona is 30.
If a vehicle is in the shop for more than 30 days for any number of issues within the lemon law time period, it’s considered a lemon and the dealer/manufacturer must allow you to return the vehicle for an identical (or like) vehicle or refund.
These 30 days do not have to be consecutive. Instead, they are cumulative.
Any time your car is in the shop within the lemon law period for the same issue counts toward your 30 days, even if they are months apart.
Replace the car with a “substantially identical” vehicle
If the dealer/manufacturer cannot repair the vehicle within the allotted number of attempts or days, they must allow you to return it.
When you return the car, you may request a replacement vehicle.
This replacement vehicle must be similar enough to the original vehicle (same make, model, have the same features, etc.) and acceptable to you.
The dealer must pay any additional taxes and fees associated with the exchange, but may deduct an amount for the time you used the vehicle up until the first repair attempt.
This fee should be calculated by a standard formula.
Allow you to return the car for a full refund
If you do not want a replacement vehicle after your first vehicle turns out to be a lemon, you may request a refund instead.
When refunding a lemon, dealers must refund the full buying price of the car (including all taxes, fees and interest paid on the loan), minus the usage fee.
This usage fee is for any miles put on the car up until the first repair attempt and should be calculated by a standard formula.
Arizona Lemon Law Rules for Used Cars
When it comes to used cars, Arizona has one of the better lemon laws.
While most states require a vehicle still be under the original manufacturer’s warranty to qualify under the lemon law, Arizona has qualifications specifically for pre-owned vehicles.
In Arizona, your used vehicle is considered a lemon if:
- The problems with the vehicle begin within 15 days or 500 miles after you take possession.
- The issue you are having with the vehicle “substantially impairs” the use, value, or safety of the vehicle.
- The vehicle came with the issue. (i.e. You didn’t drive it off the lot and immediately sideswipe a curb, jacking up the running board or suspension.)
If your used car meets the definition of a “lemon” in Arizona, and the issue cannot be fixed within two (2) attempts, the car dealership/manufacturer must allow you to return the car for a refund of your purchase price.
Arizona Lemon Law Time Limit
The time limit in Arizona for filing a lemon law claim is 30 months.
This is 24 months after the date of delivery (during which the lemon law actually applies), plus a six-month grace period for filing the claim.
This assumes you have not reached the other limits for filing a lemon law claim in the state.
Along with the 24-month (plus six month) time frame, you must file a lemon law claim in Arizona:
- Within six months of hitting 24,000 miles on the vehicle
- Within six months of the end date of the vehicle’s express warranty
Basically, the lemon law is in effect in Arizona for:
- 24 months after purchase
- 24,000 miles after purchase
- To the end of the warranty period
Whichever comes first.
And you have a six-month grace period following the expiration of the lemon law period to file the claim.
You only have to report the problem initially within the lemon law time period (24 months, 24,000 miles, or the warranty term).
As long as you first report the problem within the lemon law period, the lemon law procedure still applies.
How do I file a lemon law claim in Arizona?
Before filing a lemon law claim in Arizona, you must contact the manufacturer or dealer of the vehicle to try to get the issue resolved.
You can do this after three failed repair attempts for new vehicles or two for used vehicles.
To do this for a new car, send a certified letter to the vehicle manufacturer (or dealer) informing them that you are giving them one final attempt at repair. (You can find the contact information in your new car paperwork).
The manufacturer will either agree to refund/replace the vehicle or provide a service facility for their final repair attempt. (This service facility must be reasonably accessible to you.)
To ensure the manufacturer has everything they need to make a decision, include all of the following information:
- Vehicle VIN number
- Dealership where car was purchased
- The issue(s) with the vehicle
- A list of repair attempts
- Notice that you are giving them one final attempt at repair
If the manufacturer’s chosen facility fails to repair the car or the manufacturer doesn’t respond, you may proceed to arbitration.
Information on the arbitration process should be included in the warranty information for your vehicle.
With a used car, the lemon law process isn’t quite as formal, but you should still keep good records at your attempts to get the car repaired.
If you have problems with either a new or used lemon car claim through the manufacturer, you can file a Consumer Fraud Complaint with the Arizona Attorney General.
General Lemon Law FAQ
To further your understanding of lemon laws, here are some frequently asked questions about how they pertain to vehicles.
What is a lemon law?
A lemon law is a law that protects consumers from defective products or “lemons,” generally by enforcement of a warranty.
What is a lemon car?
“Lemon car” meaning varies slightly from state to state, but, in general, if a new car has a defect the dealer or manufacturer cannot fix, that car is a lemon.
Defects in lemon cars typically affect the operation or safety of a vehicle, but not always. Structural issues that affect that value of a car are also covered.
Is there a federal lemon law?
There is no federal lemon law specifically geared toward vehicles.
However, there is a federal warranty act called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act which protects consumers from false or misleading warranties and makes warranties easier to enforce.
Since cars sold by dealerships typically come with full warranties, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act applies to them.
This act serves as the basis for state-specific lemon laws.
What’s in the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (as it applies to vehicles)?
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act includes several key points that pertain to vehicle warranties.
These points are:
- No product is required to have a warranty (and many used cars don’t).
- The terms of a warranty must be fully disclosed in simple, understandable language.
- Any ambiguity in the language of a warranty is held against the warrantor (in this case, the manufacturer or dealer).
- Warrantors cannot require only branded parts be used with their products for a warranty to remain valid (Ford can’t require only Ford parts be used on your vehicle).
- Service contracts must follow these same rules.
Basically, if you feel like you’ve been duped by a warranty, you may have a case under the Magnuson-Moss Act.
And if your vehicle comes with a “full warranty”:
- A dealer/manufacturer must repair any defect for free within a reasonable amount of time/reasonable number of attempts
Or, if the dealer/manufacturer cannot repair the vehicle, they must:
- Replace the vehicle with an exact-match vehicle or allow you to return the vehicle for a full refund (including all taxes and fees)
Does the federal lemon law cover used cars?
If the used cars come with warranties, it does.
The Magnuson-Moss Act is not directed toward products themselves, but the warranties which cover them.
So, if you bought a used car that came with both a defect AND a warranty that covers that defect, the dealer must either repair your vehicle (in a satisfactory manner).
If they fail to do so, you can seek restitution under the Magnuson-Moss Act.
You may be able to come to an agreement with the dealer through arbitration, but, more likely, you will have to take the matter to court.
Does the lemon law apply to leased vehicles?
Yes. In Arizona, the lemon law applies to leased vehicles that are new and under a manufacturer’s warranty.
Chucking A Lemon In Arizona
When you buy a new car, whether you really need one or are just looking for an upgrade, there’s nothing worse than getting it home only to discover it’s a non-functional dud.
But manufacturers shouldn’t be shipping dud cars to dealerships and dealerships shouldn’t be putting dud cars out on their lots.
That’s the point of lemon laws, to ensure new vehicles driven off of car lots are safe, functional, and free from major defects.
So, if you think you’ve gotten a lemon car in Arizona, you shouldn’t accept it and you shouldn’t delay.
You do have recourse, and the sooner you bring the issue to the dealer’s and manufacturer’s attention, the stronger your “lemon” claim will be.