Connecticut Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under Connecticut Lemon Law

What Is the Connecticut Lemon Law? Connecticut's Lemon Law is a state consumer protection statute governing manufacturer responsibility for new motor vehicles that have substantial defects which impair safety, value or use and that persist despite reasonable repair attempts. The law is codified at Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-179 et seq. and is administered by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Consumer Protection Division. The law creates a short window of heightened consumer protection early in a new vehicle's life: generally the first 24 months or 24,000 miles following delivery to the original retail purchaser. The Lemon Law is designed to give consumers a clear path to relief — typically repurchase refund or replacement — when a new vehicle cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts for the same defect or when it is out of service for an extended cumulative period. Connecticut also requires manufacturers to provide an arbitration program for lemon law disputes, and participation in that program is typically a prerequisite to litigation. For official consumer guidance, see the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Consumer Protection Division: https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Consumer-Protection-Division/. Which Vehicles Qualify Under Connecticut Lemon Law? Connecticut's lemon law applies only to new motor vehicles sold or leased to the original purchaser for personal, family or household use. It does not cover used vehicles. Coverage begins on the date of original delivery to the purchaser and extends for the duration of the statutory period — 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Key eligibility points: • The vehicle must be new and the claim must be made within the coverage period 24 months from original delivery or until the odometer reads 24,000 miles. • The law is intended for the original purchaser; secondary owners do not generally qualify unless specific warranty obligations continue to run and the vehicle remains within the statutory limits. • The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's safety, value or use. If you are unsure whether your vehicle or circumstances qualify, consult the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection or a Connecticut lemon law attorney listed in the state directory: Connecticut lemon law attorneys/attorneys/ct/. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in Connecticut? Connecticut establishes objective thresholds for when a vehicle may be presumed a lemon. The two most commonly applied thresholds are the number of repair attempts for the same defect and the cumulative number of days the vehicle has been out of service for repairs during the coverage period. | Threshold type | Connecticut standard | |---|---:| | Repair attempts for same defect | 4 repair attempts | | Days out of service cumulative | 30 days | | Coverage period | 24 months or 24,000 miles | A vehicle that has had the same defect repaired unsuccessfully four times during the coverage