Montana Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under Montana Lemon Law

Your Rights Under the Montana Lemon Law When a new vehicle experiences persistent defects that impair its use, value, or safety and the manufacturer cannot repair the problem within a reasonable time, Montana's lemon law provides a statutory remedy. This guide explains the scope of Montana's Lemon Law Mont. Code Ann. § 61-4-501 et seq., which vehicles qualify, the repair thresholds that trigger relief, the claim process, the remedies available, and how Montana law interacts with federal warranty protections. For practical next steps, see our attorney directory at Find a Montana lemon law attorney/attorneys/montana/. What Is the Montana Lemon Law? The Montana Lemon Law, codified at Mont. Code Ann. § 61-4-501 et seq., establishes a consumer protection scheme for purchasers of new motor vehicles that develop nonconformities covered by the manufacturer's express warranty. The law is designed to protect consumers who buy a new car that cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. Under Montana law, a vehicle that meets the statutory thresholds is eligible for a manufacturer's obligation to either replace the vehicle or repurchase it refund, subject to certain offsets and conditions established by statute and case law. Montana's statute sets objective thresholds to determine when a vehicle is presumed to be a lemon, but consumers must preserve evidence — repair orders, written communications, mileage statements, and purchase documents — to establish their claim. The Montana Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division provides guidance and complaint intake for consumer warranty claims; their website is a primary resource for Montana buyers: https://doj.mt.gov/consumer-protection/. If you need a plain-language overview of lemon law basics or want to compare Montana's rules to other states, start with our general guide on What Is the Lemon Law?/resources/what-is-the-lemon-law/. Which Vehicles Qualify Under Montana Lemon Law? Montana's lemon law applies only to new motor vehicles that are sold or leased to the original consumer and are still covered by the manufacturer's express warranty. Specifically, Montana covers new vehicles for the earlier of two years from the date of delivery or 18,000 miles on the odometer. Used vehicles are not covered by this statute; buyers of used cars should review any separate used-vehicle warranties and federal consumer protections. Key qualification points: - Coverage applies to new vehicles only; the law explicitly excludes used vehicles from the statute's protections. If you purchased a used vehicle, consult other consumer protections or warranty language. - The statutory coverage period is the earlier of 2 years or 18,000 miles from the date of delivery to the original purchaser Mont. Code Ann. § 61-4-501 et seq.. - The defect must be a nonconformity covered by the manufacturer's express warranty and must substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. For claims involving