Utah Lemon Law: Your Rights on a Defective New Vehicle (2026)
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
Short answer: Utah's Lemon Law — formally the New Motor Vehicle Warranties Act, Utah Code Title 13, Chapter 20 — covers new vehicles. A vehicle is presumed to be a lemon if, during the manufacturer's express warranty term or the first year after delivery (whichever ends first), either the same defect has been repaired four or more times and still exists, or the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a cumulative total of 30 or more business days. If the manufacturer can't fix a defect that substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value, or safety, it must replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price, minus a reasonable allowance for your use.
Who this guide is for
Anyone who bought or leased a new vehicle in Utah that keeps breaking down in the same way, and wants to understand what the statute actually requires before deciding what to do next.
What's covered — and what isn't
Who counts as a "consumer." Someone who enters into an agreement to buy, lease, or sublease a new motor vehicle for a reason other than resale. Leases are expressly included.
What counts as a "motor vehicle." As amended in 2026 (effective May 6, 2026), the law covers:
- Ordinary motor vehicles sold in Utah.
- The self-propelled vehicle and chassis of a motor home (not the living quarters).
- Motorcycles designed primarily for use on paved highways — a category added by the 2026 amendment. Older guides, including many that still rank in search results, say motorcycles aren't covered; the current statute text says otherwise for on-highway motorcycles.
What's excluded. Vehicles over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight (other than motor homes and farm tractors), road tractors and truck tractors, mobile homes, off-road motorcycles, electric-assisted bicycles, mopeds, and motor-assisted scooters.
Used cars. The statute's definition of a consumer is built around a new motor vehicle, so an ordinary used-car purchase isn't covered by this law. Other consumer-protection or warranty claims may still exist — see Utah Small Claims for Consumer Disputes: Defective Products and Bad Service.
The coverage window
The manufacturer must repair a nonconformity you report during the express warranty term or the one-year period after original delivery, whichever is earlier. Both the repair-attempt count and the days-out-of-service count run inside that same window. The window is extended by any time repair services weren't available because of a war, strike, fire, flood, or similar disaster.
The presumption: 4 repairs or 30 business days
A reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed to have been made if, within that window:
- the same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer, its agent, or its authorized dealer and still exists; or
- the vehicle has been out of service because of repair for a cumulative total of 30 or more business days.
Note the wording: business days, not calendar days. Many summaries (including an earlier version of this page) say "30 days," which understates how long a vehicle has to be in the shop. Keep a day-by-day count from your repair orders.
What you get if you qualify
If the manufacturer can't conform the vehicle to its warranty after a reasonable number of attempts, it must either:
- replace it with a comparable new vehicle, or
- take it back and refund the full purchase price, including all collateral charges, less a reasonable allowance for your use.
The "use allowance" is limited to use before your first report of the problem and any later period when the vehicle was not out of service for repair. Refunds go to you and to any lienholder or lessor as their interests appear, and you hand over clear title and the vehicle.
The manufacturer has two statutory defenses: that the problem doesn't substantially impair the vehicle's use, market value, or safety, or that it resulted from abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modification.
Steps that come before a lawsuit
Two requirements trip people up:
- Manufacturer dispute programs. If a manufacturer has set up an informal dispute settlement procedure that meets the federal rules (16 C.F.R. Part 703), the refund-or-replacement remedy does not apply to a consumer who hasn't first used that procedure. Check your warranty booklet for one.
- The Division of Consumer Protection. Under § 13-20-6, the Division of Consumer Protection can enforce the law, and a consumer may bring an action only after the claim has been investigated and evaluated by the Division. Complaints go through the Division's Car Purchases & Repairs page.
Also note that the statute doesn't create a cause of action against the dealer under the Lemon Law (apart from written warranties the dealer made on its own), so claims run against the manufacturer.
Attorney's fees cut both ways
Under § 13-20-6(4), in a consumer-initiated action the court may award attorneys' fees to the prevailing party. That can help a consumer who wins, but it isn't a guarantee, and the language isn't limited to consumers. Don't assume a lemon claim is risk-free.
Recreational vehicle trailers
Towable RVs follow a separate track: for certain structural defects (roof, subfloor, or wall), after at least four failed repair attempts and a written mediation request, the owner and manufacturer must mediate, and the manufacturer pays for the mediation (§ 13-20-8). Failing mediation doesn't take away other legal rights.
What to do if you think you have a lemon
- Keep every repair order — dates in and out, the complaint you reported, and what the shop did.
- Count business days out of service and repair attempts for the same defect.
- Report problems in writing to the manufacturer as well as the dealer, and keep copies.
- Use the manufacturer's dispute program if its warranty describes one.
- Contact the Division of Consumer Protection to have the claim investigated.
- Talk to a lemon-law attorney before the warranty window closes if the vehicle is still failing.
Related steps in a Utah small claims case
- Utah Small Claims Court: How to File (Complete Guide) — the full filing process, step by step
- What Evidence You Need for a Utah Small Claims Case — what to bring to prove your case
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Utah's Lemon Law cover used cars?
Generally no. The statute is written around new motor vehicles, so a used car bought as-is isn't covered by this law, though other warranty or consumer-protection claims might apply.
Does Utah's Lemon Law cover motorcycles?
As of the 2026 amendment (effective May 6, 2026), motorcycles designed primarily for paved highways are included, while off-road motorcycles are excluded. Older sources that say motorcycles are never covered are out of date. Confirm how the amendment applies to your purchase date with an attorney.
Does it cover leased vehicles?
Yes. The definition of "consumer" includes a person who leases or subleases a new motor vehicle.
Is it 30 days or 30 business days?
The statute says 30 or more business days of repair downtime within the coverage window.
Can I get my attorney's fees paid?
Possibly. A court may award attorneys' fees to the prevailing party in a consumer-initiated action, which isn't the same as a guaranteed fee-shift in your favor.
What if the dealer refuses to acknowledge the defect?
Documentation is your strongest tool: a record of repeated, unsuccessful repair visits is what builds the statutory presumption. The Lemon Law claim is against the manufacturer, not the dealer.
Is there a deadline to bring a claim?
The repair and downtime thresholds must be met within the warranty term or first year (whichever is earlier), and you must go through the dispute-program and Division steps above first. Because those windows are short, don't wait — consult an attorney promptly.