Connecticut Lemon Law

Connecticut's Lemon Law (Conn. Gen. Stat. 42-179 et seq.) covers new passenger and combination passenger/commercial motor vehicles, including motorcycles, sold or leased in Connecticut for personal, family, or household use. Coverage runs for the earlier of two years from original delivery or 24,000 miles. The defect must substantially impair the use, safety, or value of the vehicle and cannot result from owner abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modification. Heavy commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR are excluded.

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. 42-179(d), a reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed if (1) the same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times during the first 2 years or 24,000 miles, (2) the vehicle has been out of service for repair for a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days during the same period, or (3) the same safety-related defect has been subject to repair two or more times within the warranty period (with at least one within the first year). The defect must continue to exist.

No, the new-car Lemon Law does not cover used vehicles. However, Connecticut has a separate used-car warranty statute (Conn. Gen. Stat. 42-221) that requires licensed dealers to provide a minimum express warranty on used cars: 60 days or 3,000 miles for vehicles priced $5,000 or more, and 30 days or 1,500 miles for vehicles priced $3,000-$4,999. Used-car buyers may also pursue federal Magnuson-Moss and Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) claims for warranty breaches and deceptive dealer practices.

Yes. Motor vehicles leased on or after June 17, 1987 are expressly covered under Conn. Gen. Stat. 42-179. The lessee has the same lemon law rights as a purchaser. If the lessee files an action, the statute requires that notice be given by registered or certified mail to the lessor (the title-holder), who may petition to be made a party. Lemon law remedies for leases typically include termination of the lease, refund of payments and capitalized cost reduction, and refund to the lessor of any unrecovered residual.

No, but Connecticut runs the only state-administered lemon law arbitration program in the U.S. The Department of Consumer Protection's Automobile Dispute Settlement Program accepts applications for $50, and most consumers use it because it is fast (usually decided within 60 days), the arbitrators are state-appointed (not industry-chosen), and decisions are binding on the manufacturer but appealable by the consumer. You can skip arbitration and file directly in Connecticut Superior Court if you prefer a court remedy and the broader CUTPA damages.

The general statute of limitations for breach-of-warranty actions in Connecticut is four years from the date of breach, under Conn. Gen. Stat. 42a-2-725 (UCC). The DCP arbitration program also accepts applications within that window. Practically, you should apply or file as soon as the vehicle qualifies under the four-attempts or 30-days threshold, because evidence (repair orders, communications) is most persuasive while the defect history is recent. Waiting beyond the four-year UCC limit will bar the claim.

If the manufacturer cannot conform the vehicle to warranty after a reasonable number of attempts, the consumer may choose either replacement with a comparable new vehicle or a refund of the contract price, including sales tax, license, and registration fees, less a use offset commonly calculated as (contract price x current mileage) / 120,000. The DCP arbitrator has discretion whether to apply the offset. Manufacturers that fail to comply with an arbitrator's decision can be fined up to $1,000 per day under Conn. Gen. Stat. 42-179(g). CUTPA claims may add punitive damages and attorneys' fees for willful conduct.