Is My Vehicle Covered Under The Lemon Law?

Your vehicle may be covered if it is:

a new car, including a demonstrator model. This also includes a car transferred to a second purchaser while the manufacturer`s written warranty is still in effect.
purchased or leased in Hawaii
used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes or individually registered but used for business purposes and for personal, family, or household purposes or owned or leased by a business which has purchased or leased no more than one car per year, used for household, individual, or personal use in addition to business use

Your vehicle is NOT covered if it is:

a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter
a vehicle over 10,000 pounds, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)*

* GVWR is the maximum loaded weight of the vehicle as specified by the manufacturer. The GVWR can be found on the sticker that is placed on the driver side door jamb. The GVWR is not the weight of the vehicle as stated on your registration.

The following table is a quick summary of what is covered, how many times the vehicle has to be repaired for the same defect and the warranty period.

Vehicles Covered

Repair Interval and Coverage Period

A selfpropelled vehicle primarily designed for the transportation of persons or property over public streets and highways which is used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. Does not include mopeds, motorcycles, or motor scooters, or vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW.

1 repair attempt for a defect that might cause death or serious injury or 3 repair attempts or 30 business days out of service.

Warranty period: 2 years or 24,000 miles.

Note:

Generally, the term Repair Attempts, as it relates to Lemon Law, refers to one or more attempts to fix the same defect although some states consider a vehicle to be a lemon if it required the specified number of repairs within the coverage period.

A car is out of service while being repaired or waiting for parts.

Warranty Period refers to the Manufacturer`s Express Warranty. Where the Coverage Period lists more than 1 option, the period applies to that option which occurs first.

This is only a summary, to get the complete Lemon Law Statute select your state from the combo box menu on the right side of this page, and click Get Statute.

Other Hawaii Lemon Law FAQs

Q: How Does The Lemon Law Work?
A: The Hawaii Lemon Law helps consumers who buy or lease new motor vehicles and have repeated problems in getting their vehicles repaired under the manufacturer`s … More
Q: Is My Car A Lemon?
A: Your car may be declared a lemon after going through arbitration if it meets all of the following conditions: it has a nonconformity (a defect, malfunction, or … More
Q: When Does The Lemon Law Rights Period Expire?
A: Assuming the express warranty is still in effect, the Lemon Law Rights Period expires two years after the date of the original delivery of the car to you or the first … More
Q: Is My Car's Nonconformity A Substantial Impairment?
A: The nonconformity you are alleging must substantially impair your car`s use, safety, or value. Substantially impairs means to render the car unfit, unreliable, or … More
Q: How Many Repair Attempts Do I Have To Allow?
A: One or more of the following presumptions should apply to your car: Three times presumption you took your car in for repair for the same nonconformity at least three … More
Q: What Should I Do If I Think I Qualify For Arbitration?
A: Letter to manufacturer. Send a letter by certified mail, return receipt requested to the manufacturer within the Lemon Law Rights Period. Send it to the address given … More
Q: Can I Settle My Case Without Going To Arbitration?
A: Yes, if the manufacturer offers you a settlement of your case, you are free to negotiate with the manufacturer regarding the terms of the settlement, and you are free … More
Q: How Should I Prepare For The Arbitration?
A: Collect and organize your evidence. For example, arrange repair orders by date. If you are asking for collateral charges * (such as tinting costs) or incidental … More
Q: Where Do I Go For The Lemon Law Arbitration Hearing?
A: Hearings on Oahu are held at 235 S. Beretania Street, 9th Floor. Neighbor island hearings are held at various locations on those islands.
Q: How Long Will The Hearing Take?
A: Hearings usually last from two to four hours depending on the complexities of the case and whether attorneys or witnesses are involved.

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