Rhode Island Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under Rhode Island Lemon Law

What Is the Rhode Island Lemon Law? The Rhode Island Lemon Law R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5.2-1 et seq. is a consumer protection statute that gives purchasers of new motor vehicles a remedy when a manufacturer cannot repair a substantial defect covered by the warranty within a reasonable number of attempts or time. The law is intended to ensure that vehicle purchasers are not forced to accept a chronically defective vehicle when the manufacturer cannot correct the defect. Under the statute, the manufacturer has obligations to repair defects covered by the express warranty. If the manufacturer fails to repair the same defect after the statutory number of repair attempts, or if the vehicle is out of service for a specified number of days during the warranty period, the consumer may be entitled to a replacement vehicle or a refund repurchase. The statute also requires manufacturers doing business in Rhode Island to maintain an independent, certified informal dispute resolution program manufacturer arbitration for resolving Lemon Law claims. For official guidance, see the Rhode Island Attorney General's Consumer Protection division: https://riag.ri.gov/civil-division/consumer-protection and the text of the statute at the Rhode Island General Assembly: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/statutes/title31/31-5.2/ R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5.2-1 et seq.. Which Vehicles Qualify Under Rhode Island Lemon Law? Rhode Island's Lemon Law applies only to new motor vehicles that were originally sold or leased to a consumer for personal, family, or household use. The statute does not apply to used vehicles sold by private parties or dealers, nor does it apply to vehicles primarily used for commercial purposes. Coverage is measured from the vehicle’s date of delivery to the original consumer and is subject to time and mileage limits described in the statute. Important qualification points: - The vehicle must be a "new motor vehicle" as defined by the statute and covered under the manufacturer's express warranty. Used vehicles are excluded from Rhode Island’s Lemon Law protections. - The defect or condition must substantially impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety and be covered by the terms of the manufacturer's warranty. - The consumer must give the manufacturer a reasonable opportunity to repair the defect and generally must participate in the manufacturer's certified arbitration program before pursuing litigation, as the statute requires a manufacturer arbitration program. If you have a new vehicle with persistent problems, keep all service records and communications. You can consult a local lemon law lawyer in Rhode Island through our directory at Find a Rhode Island lemon law attorney/attorneys/rhode-island/, and review general background at What Is the Lemon Law/resources/what-is-the-lemon-law/. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in Rhode Island? Rhode Island sets specific thresholds that trigger a presumption the vehicle is a "lemon." The statute rec