North Dakota Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under North Dakota Lemon Law

What Is the North Dakota Lemon Law? The North Dakota Lemon Law codified at N.D. Cent. Code § 51-07-16 et seq. provides a statutory remedy for consumers who purchase or lease a new motor vehicle that repeatedly fails to conform to the manufacturer's express warranty. The law is designed to protect buyers from chronic defects that substantially impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety. If a qualifying vehicle meets the statutory thresholds for failed repairs or days out of service within the coverage period, the consumer may be entitled to a replacement vehicle or a refund. The statutory language and administrative guidance frame the specific requirements and remedies. Consumers should read the statute N.D. Cent. Code § 51-07-16 et seq. and consult the North Dakota Attorney General's consumer resources for up-to-date procedural guidance and contact information: https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/. The statute sets the repair attempt thresholds, coverage period, and other key limits that determine when a vehicle is a "lemon" under North Dakota law. For a general primer on state lemon laws and how they interact with federal warranty law, see our overview of What Is the Lemon Law/resources/what-is-the-lemon-law/. Which Vehicles Qualify Under North Dakota Lemon Law? North Dakota's lemon law applies only to new motor vehicles that are still within the statutory coverage period. The law does not extend to used vehicles. Specifically, the law covers a new vehicle that is still within the earlier of 12 months from the date of delivery or 12,000 miles on the odometer. That coverage window establishes when repair attempts and days-out-of-service are evaluated for a claim under the statute. Qualifying vehicles generally include passenger cars, trucks, and other consumer motor vehicles sold or leased for personal use. Commercial vehicles and vehicles not covered by the manufacturer's express warranty may fall outside the statute's protections. Because factual circumstances vary for example, whether an extended warranty applies or whether a defect implicates a manufacturer's warranty, consumers should verify coverage details in the warranty and consult counsel or the North Dakota Attorney General's consumer office if there is any uncertainty. If you bought a new vehicle that is experiencing repeated problems, take prompt action: document repairs, maintain the vehicle in your possession if possible, and contact an experienced attorney listed in our North Dakota attorney directory Find a North Dakota attorney/attorneys/north-dakota/. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in North Dakota? North Dakota requires a showing of repeated repair attempts or an aggregate time out of service for the same defect before a vehicle is considered a lemon under state law. The principal thresholds are three attempts for the same defect or 30 cumulative days out of service for repair within the coverage period 12 months/12,000 miles. The statute provid