Indiana Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under Indiana Lemon Law

What Is the Indiana Lemon Law? The Indiana Lemon Law, codified at Ind. Code § 24-5-13-1 et seq., provides statutory remedies for buyers and lessees of new motor vehicles that have substantial nonconformities covered by the manufacturer’s express warranty and that cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. The statute is designed to protect consumers when a vehicle has a defect that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety and the manufacturer cannot fix it within the statutory thresholds. Under the Indiana Lemon Law, consumers may be entitled to either a refund repurchase of the vehicle or a replacement vehicle. The law sets specific thresholds for repair attempts and out-of-service days; when those thresholds are met within the coverage period, the consumer may demand a remedy. The law applies only to new motor vehicles sold or leased to a consumer in Indiana and that were originally purchased for personal, family, or household use. Indiana’s Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division provides consumer guidance and complaint handling for vehicle disputes. Visit the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division for official consumer resources and complaint submission at https://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer-protection-division/. Which Vehicles Qualify Under Indiana Lemon Law? Indiana’s lemon law is limited in scope. It applies only to new motor vehicles covered by the manufacturer’s express warranty. The statute does not extend lemon law protections to used vehicles, so buyers of pre-owned vehicles will not be able to raise a claim under Ind. Code § 24-5-13 unless the manufacturer’s express warranty specifically covers the used vehicle and the defect occurs within any applicable warranty term. To qualify for Indiana lemon law protection, the vehicle generally must meet these criteria: the vehicle must be new, it must have been purchased or leased in Indiana or delivered there, and the defect must be covered by the manufacturer’s written warranty. If you are uncertain whether your vehicle qualifies, consult the warranty documentation and keep repair orders and dealer communications organized. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in Indiana? Indiana specifies objective thresholds that trigger a presumption that the manufacturer has failed to repair a defect. These thresholds focus on the number of repair attempts for the same defect and the cumulative days the vehicle is out of service for repairs. | Condition | Threshold | | --- | ---: | | Repair attempts for the same defect | 4 attempts | | Cumulative days out of service for repairs | 30 days cumulative | | Coverage period time from delivery | 18 months | If the same defect has been subject to four repair attempts and remains uncorrected, or if the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 business days or more during the first 18 months after delivery, Indiana law creates a strong basis for a lemon law claim. The 18-mon