Maine Lemon Law

10 M.R.S. ch. 203-A covers any new or used car, motorcycle, van, truck, or RV purchased or leased in Maine that is still covered by an express manufacturer warranty when the defect first arises. Coverage extends three years from original delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. The defect must substantially impair use, market value, or safety. Vehicles registered or used primarily outside Maine, vehicles modified after sale, and pure off-road vehicles are excluded. Maine's coverage of used vehicles still under warranty is unusual – most states' lemon laws apply only to new cars.

Maine presumes a reasonable number of repair attempts when, within the three-year / 18,000-mile coverage window, the same nonconformity has been subject to three or more repair attempts, or the vehicle has been out of service for warranty repair for a cumulative 15 or more BUSINESS days (one of the shortest triggers in the country). Only one attempt is required if the defect causes a serious failure of the braking or steering systems. After hitting any threshold, you must give the manufacturer one final 7-business-day repair opportunity by written notice.

Yes – this is one of Maine's distinctive features. 10 M.R.S. § 1162 covers any motor vehicle (new or used) purchased or leased in Maine that is still covered by an express manufacturer warranty at the time the defect arises. So if you bought a 2-year-old certified pre-owned vehicle that still has warranty time left, you can use the state lemon-law arbitration program. Maine also has a separate Used Car Information Act (Title 10, ch. 217-A) requiring dealer disclosures and certain implied warranties on used-car sales.

Yes – Maine's lemon law expressly covers leased vehicles, and the refund formula is unusually detailed. Lessees recover down payments, trade-in allowances, all lease payments made up through the date of the award, and reasonable incidental costs (towing, rental, etc.), less a reasonable allowance for use that is statutorily capped at 10% of the comparable purchase price. The manufacturer also has to satisfy the lessor for the vehicle, releasing the consumer from further lease obligations.

You must apply to the State Lemon Law Arbitration Program within three years of the original delivery date of the vehicle or within the term of the express warranty, whichever is earlier. The arbitration program is free and decisions are issued within 45 days of an accepted application. If you skip arbitration and sue directly under the Maine UTPA or Magnuson-Moss, the standard four-year UCC limitations period typically applies for breach of warranty.

Maine offers a state-certified arbitration program through the Attorney General's office, and manufacturers are required to participate if you apply in time. The program is free and resolves most cases within 45 days. The arbitrator's decision binds the manufacturer; if the consumer rejects it, the consumer can still sue in Superior Court. Maine does not require you to use a manufacturer's private arbitration program first – the state program is your direct route. Civil filing is also available without arbitration in some circumstances, but arbitration is faster and free.

The consumer chooses between a comparable replacement vehicle and a full refund of the purchase or lease price, including sales tax, license and registration fees, finance charges, and reasonable incidental damages (towing, rental, etc.), minus a use offset capped at 10% of the purchase price. If the manufacturer fails to honor the arbitration award and loses any appeal, the consumer is entitled to no less than double the original award. Lemon-law violations are also actionable under Maine's UTPA, which adds attorney's fees and possible additional damages.