Connecticut Lemon Law (CT)

Qualifying Criteria in Connecticut

Under Connecticut's lemon law, your vehicle may qualify as a lemon if it meets the following criteria:

• Vehicle type: New and certain used motor vehicles purchased or leased in Connecticut
• Defect type: A nonconformity that substantially impairs the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle and is covered under the manufacturer's warranty
• Coverage period: The defect must occur within 2 years of delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first
• Repair attempts: The manufacturer or authorized dealer must have attempted to repair the same defect at least 4 times, or the vehicle must have been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days

Manufacturer Obligations

Must repair the nonconformity. If unable after a reasonable number of attempts, must replace or accept return and refund the full purchase price including all collateral charges, minus a reasonable use allowance.

Available Remedies

If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Connecticut law, you are entitled to:

• Replacement vehicle
• Full refund minus reasonable use allowance
• Attorney fees

The "reasonable use allowance" deduction is typically calculated based on the mileage you accumulated before the first repair attempt, proportional to the vehicle's expected lifetime mileage. This ensures the manufacturer is not paying for use you already received from the vehicle.

Step-by-Step Filing Process in Connecticut

Follow these steps if you believe your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Connecticut law:

1. 1 Report the defect to the dealer or manufacturer
2. 2 Allow at least 4 repair attempts or 30+ calendar days out of service, or 2 attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
3. 3 Send written notice to the manufacturer by certified mail
4. 4 Use the manufacturer's arbitration program or the state's arbitration program
5. 5 File a lawsuit if arbitration is unsatisfactory

Arbitration in Connecticut

Consumer must use the manufacturer's arbitration program (if state-certified) before filing suit. If no certified program exists, the consumer may proceed directly to the state's Lemon Law Arbitration Program run by the Department of Consumer Protection.

Important: In Connecticut, arbitration is a required step before you can file a lawsuit. This means you must exhaust the arbitration process first. The arbitration decision may or may not be binding depending on the specific program. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you typically have the right to appeal or file a civil action in court.

Filing Deadline

Within 2 years of original delivery or during the warranty period.

Missing the filing deadline can forfeit your rights under the lemon law. Keep detailed records of every repair visit, including dates, mileage, descriptions of the problem, and copies of all repair orders and receipts. This documentation will be critical for your claim.

Additional Notes

Connecticut also has a used car lemon law covering vehicles less than 2 years old with under 40,000 miles purchased from a dealer. The used car warranty runs for 60 days or 3,000 miles.