Washington State Lemon Law, also known as the Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act, protects consumers who purchase or lease new vehicles that continue to have serious defects.
If your vehicle meets the criteria, the manufacturer is legally required to offer a repurchase, replacement, or compensation — and may also be required to pay for your legal representation. Your Rights Under Washington State Lemon Law
Washington State lemon law, ensures that consumers who purchase or lease vehicles with defects are protected. If the manufacturer or dealer cannot fix the defect after a reasonable number of attempts, you may be entitled to compensation.
Options for Resolution Include:
- Replacement: A comparable vehicle of the same make and model.
- Repurchase: A full refund, including taxes and fees, minus a mileage offset.
- Cash Settlement: Compensation for the decreased value or damages, with possible civil penalties up to triple the original amount.
Legal fees are often recoverable from the manufacturer — not you.
What Vehicles Are Covered?
Washington lemon law applies to:
- New and certified pre-owned vehicles under the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Used vehicles sold with remaining factory warranties.
- Cars, trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, RVs, and certain business vehicles (weighing less than 10,000 lbs with five or fewer vehicles owned by the business).
Not Covered: Vehicles used primarily for business, off-road vehicles, RVs, and most used vehicles sold “as-is” without a warranty.
How to Qualify for a Washington State Lemon Law Claim
To qualify for Washington Lemon Law, the defect must:
- Substantially impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
- Occur within two years of original retail delivery and before 24,000 miles (RCW 19.118).
- Remain unresolved after a reasonable number of attempts: two or more diagnoses or repairs for a serious safety defect, four or more for other defects, or a cumulative 30 or more calendar days out of service — at least 15 of them during the manufacturer’s written warranty.
- A request for arbitration must be filed within 30 months of original retail delivery.
Types of Defects Covered by Washington State Lemon Law
Washington State lemon law covers significant defects that interfere with the vehicle’s operation or safety. Examples include:
- Transmission or shifting problems
- Repeated engine stalling or overheating
- Brake or suspension failure
- Persistent electrical or sensor issues
- Air conditioning or cooling system failure
- Power steering or safety system malfunctions
- Dashboard warning lights that won’t reset
- And more…
These defects must persist after a reasonable number of repair attempts and be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Lemon Law for Used Cars in Washington
Washington State Lemon Law does not typically apply to used vehicles. However, we may still be able to help if:
- Your used vehicle is still under the manufacturer’s warranty
- You purchased a certified pre-owned vehicle with extended coverage
- The dealer misrepresented the condition or failed to disclose prior damage or repairs
Contact us to explore all available legal remedies for your used car.
Why Choose Us?
- We focus exclusively on Lemon Law cases across the country
- Fast response times and simple online case intake
- No fees unless we win your case
- Experienced legal team handles everything from start to finish
- Thousands of successful claims and millions recovered for our clients
No upfront fees.
We get paid by the manufacturer. Your agreement explains any costs.
$26,534
Call (213) 531-2056