Colorado Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under Colorado Lemon Law

What Is the Colorado Lemon Law? The Colorado Lemon Law, codified at Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-10-101 et seq., provides statutory remedies to buyers of new motor vehicles that suffer substantial defects that impair use, value, or safety and that the manufacturer cannot repair within a reasonable number of attempts or a reasonable period. The statute creates a consumer protection framework intended to encourage manufacturers to honor express warranties and to provide remedies when a vehicle cannot be brought into compliance despite repeated repair attempts. Colorado's law is focused on early life defects in new vehicles. The law sets specific thresholds for repair attempts and days out of service; if those thresholds are met and the manufacturer cannot fix the defect within the statutory coverage period, the consumer may be entitled to a refund repurchase or a replacement vehicle. The statute also preserves remedies under federal law, including the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. For general background on lemon law principles helpful before reading this guide, see our overview of What is the Lemon Law?/resources/what-is-the-lemon-law/. The Colorado Attorney General's Consumer Protection Office enforces statewide consumer protections and provides guidance for filing complaints. You can review consumer resources at the Colorado Attorney General's website: https://coag.gov/resources/consumers/. Which Vehicles Qualify Under Colorado Lemon Law? Colorado's lemon law applies only to new motor vehicles sold or leased primarily for personal, family, or household use. The statute does not apply to used vehicles unless they are still covered under the original manufacturer's express warranty and otherwise meet the statutory thresholds within the coverage period. In practice, Colorado's lemon law protections are limited to new vehicles during the initial warranty period. Coverage Period: The statutory coverage period in Colorado runs for the earlier of 12 months from the date of original delivery or the first 12,000 miles of operation whichever occurs first. Defects that manifest after that period are generally not covered by the Colorado lemon law, though other warranty or consumer protection remedies may still exist under federal law or the manufacturer's warranty. Always check the odometer and delivery date to determine whether a defect arose within the statute's time and mileage limits. Excluded Vehicles and Situations: Colorado's lemon law does not apply to a used vehicles sold "as is," b vehicles primarily used for business or commercial purposes unless an express warranty applies and the consumer otherwise qualifies, and c defects caused by abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications. If you purchased a demonstrator or dealer-owned vehicle, eligibility may depend on whether the sale was the vehicle's first retail sale and whether the manufacturer's new vehicle warranty still applies. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in Colorado? Under Colo. R