New Hampshire Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under New Hampshire Lemon Law

What Is the New Hampshire Lemon Law? The New Hampshire Lemon Law is codified at N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 357-D:1 et seq. It is a consumer protection statute designed to address serious, recurring defects in new motor vehicles that substantially impair their use, value, or safety. The statute requires manufacturers to provide a remedy—typically a repurchase refund or replacement—when a vehicle cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts or has been out of service for a substantial period. The New Hampshire law is intended to protect purchasers and lessees of new vehicles and to ensure manufacturers honor express warranties and implied duties of merchantability. Under the statute, the manufacturer must establish and maintain an informal dispute settlement program arbitration to hear warranty disputes arising under the lemon law. The attorney general's consumer protection office provides resources and guidance for consumers who believe they have purchased a defective new vehicle; refer to the New Hampshire Department of Justice Consumer Protection Bureau for current guidance and contact information https://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/.N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 357-D:1 et seq. Which Vehicles Qualify Under New Hampshire Lemon Law? New Hampshire's lemon law applies only to new motor vehicles. The statute covers vehicles purchased or leased for personal, family, or household use. It does not apply to used vehicles sold "as is" or without a manufacturer's express warranty. Coverage begins on the date of original delivery to the first retail purchaser and lasts for the shorter of 12 months from that date or 18,000 miles on the odometer. These time and mileage limits are statutory; repairs or defects occurring after that period generally fall outside the lemon law even if the vehicle is still under longer express warranty. Leased vehicles that are new and subject to the manufacturer's express warranty typically qualify because the lessee stands in the position of the consumer for warranty purposes. If you are unsure whether your vehicle meets the definition of a "new motor vehicle" under the statute, consult the text of N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 357-D or seek legal counsel. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in New Hampshire? New Hampshire establishes objective thresholds that, if met, create a presumption that a vehicle is a "lemon." The two primary statutory thresholds are 1 three repair attempts for the same substantial defect and 2 30 cumulative calendar days out of service for repairs. The defect must substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle and occur within the statutory coverage period 12 months or 18,000 miles. | Scenario | Statutory Threshold | Effect | |---|---:|---| | Same substantial defect repeatedly | 3 or more repair attempts for the same defect during the coverage period | Creates presumption vehicle is a lemon N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 357-D | | Multiple defect repairs causing service time | 30 or more cumu