Utah Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under Utah Lemon Law

What Is the Utah Lemon Law? The Utah Lemon Law, codified at Utah Code Ann. § 13-20-1 et seq., is a consumer protection statute that gives purchasers of new motor vehicles a legal remedy when a vehicle has a substantial defect that the manufacturer or its authorized dealer cannot repair within a reasonable number of attempts. The law is designed to ensure that consumers are not stuck with vehicles that fail to conform to warranty promises or exhibit serious safety or use impairing defects shortly after purchase. The Utah Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division provides general consumer guidance and resources related to defects and warranty issues at https://ag.utah.gov/divisions/consumer-protection/. Under Utah's statute, the core protections include defined coverage periods, thresholds for repair attempts, and specified remedies when the statutory conditions are satisfied. The law works alongside federal warranty protections such as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act; a consumer may pursue remedies under either or both federal and state law depending on the facts. For consumers unfamiliar with basic lemon law concepts, see our primer on What Is the Lemon Law/resources/what-is-the-lemon-law/. Which Vehicles Qualify Under Utah Lemon Law? Utah's lemon law applies only to new motor vehicles. The statute's coverage period is limited to vehicles that develop defects within the earlier of 12 months from delivery or 12,000 miles on the odometer. The statute therefore excludes used vehicles from its remedies; buyers of used cars typically must rely on dealer warranties, express promises, or general consumer protection statutes rather than the state lemon law. Coverage is generally limited to defects that substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle and that arise while the vehicle is within the statutory coverage period. To qualify, the defect must be one that the manufacturer through its authorized dealers cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts or that results in an excessive number of days the vehicle is out of service for repairs. If you are unsure whether your vehicle is new for purposes of the statute, keep records of the date of purchase and mileage at delivery. If your vehicle is approaching the 12-month or 12,000-mile limit, act promptly to preserve your rights. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in Utah? Utah's lemon law sets objective thresholds the consumer can use to determine when the manufacturer must buy back or replace a vehicle. The statute recognizes two primary pathways to demonstrate the vehicle is a lemon: repeated repair attempts for the same defect, or an excessive number of days out of service while awaiting repairs. The thresholds applicable in Utah are: | Threshold type | Utah standard | |---|---:| | Repair attempts for the same defect | 4 attempts | | Cumulative days out of service for repairs | 30 days | | Coverage period | 12 months or 12,000 miles whichever comes first | | Ve