Ohio Lemon Law

Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1345.71-1345.78 cover new motor vehicles purchased, leased, or registered in Ohio that develop a nonconformity covered by the manufacturer's express warranty within one year of original delivery or the first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. The statute applies to passenger cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and motor homes (excluding the recreational living portion). The defect must be reported during that coverage window, but repair attempts and ultimate resolution can extend beyond it. Vehicles purchased outside Ohio and not registered there, and vehicles whose nonconformity first appears after 18,000 miles or one year, fall outside the statute.

§ 1345.73 sets out four alternative presumptions, any one of which is sufficient. Within the one-year/18,000-mile window: (1) the same nonconformity has been subject to repair three or more times and either continues to exist or recurs; (2) the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a cumulative 30 or more calendar days; (3) there have been eight or more attempts to repair any nonconformity; or (4) there has been at least one attempt to repair a nonconformity that creates a substantial likelihood of death or serious bodily injury and the defect continues. Ohio's serious-safety-defect prong is unusually consumer-friendly.

Used vehicles are not separately covered. A used car can fall under §§ 1345.71-1345.78 only if the defect arose within the original one-year/18,000-mile lemon law window, which runs from the date of original delivery to the first owner. Once that window closes, used buyers must rely on other tools: any dealer-provided written warranty, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the implied warranty of merchantability under Ohio's UCC, or the Consumer Sales Practices Act (ORC 1345.09), which prohibits unfair and deceptive practices and authorizes treble damages capped at $5,000.

Yes. § 1345.72 expressly covers leases and provides a notably broad refund formula. When a leased vehicle is bought back, the manufacturer must refund the capitalized cost reduction, security deposit, taxes, title fees, all monthly lease payments, the residual value of the vehicle, and any finance, credit insurance, warranty, or service contract charges incurred by the consumer. Incidental damages (towing, vehicle rental, meals, lodging) are also included. Any lender or lessor early-termination charges incurred because of the buyback are absorbed by the manufacturer, not the consumer.

ORC 1345.75 provides that any action under the Ohio lemon law must be commenced within five years of the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to the consumer. The five-year clock is tolled while a consumer is pursuing an informal dispute settlement procedure under § 1345.77. This is one of the longer lemon law statute of limitations periods in the country. Parallel claims under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and Ohio's UCC have their own four-year limits, so the Ohio statute is often the longest available avenue.

ORC 1345.77 conditions certain statutory remedies on participation in a qualifying informal dispute settlement procedure if the manufacturer has established one. To qualify, the procedure must substantially comply with the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and FTC regulations at 16 C.F.R. Part 703. BBB AUTO LINE is the most common qualifying program. If the manufacturer has not established a qualifying procedure, the consumer can proceed directly to court. The arbitration decision is not binding on the consumer, who may still file suit in common pleas court.

If you prevail, you may choose either a comparable replacement vehicle or a full refund of the purchase price (with no mileage-based deduction), plus all incidental damages including towing, rental, meals, lodging, and lease early-termination charges. ORC 1345.75 also entitles a prevailing consumer to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs. Parallel claims under the Consumer Sales Practices Act (ORC 1345.09) can add treble damages or statutory damages capped at $5,000. The combination of no use offset and a five-year limitations period makes Ohio one of the most consumer-friendly states.