District of Columbia Lemon Law (DC)

Qualifying Criteria in District of Columbia

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

• Vehicle type: New motor vehicles purchased or leased in District of Columbia
• 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 18,000 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, replace, or refund for vehicles with defects that substantially impair the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle.

Available Remedies

If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under District of Columbia law, you are entitled to:

• Replacement vehicle
• Full refund minus reasonable use allowance

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 District of Columbia

Follow these steps if you believe your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under District of Columbia 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 1 attempt for a braking or steering defect
3. 3 Use the manufacturer's arbitration program if available
4. 4 File a complaint with the DC Office of the Attorney General or pursue civil action

Arbitration in District of Columbia

Consumer must use the manufacturer's informal dispute resolution procedure if one exists and is certified.

Important: In District of Columbia, 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 from original delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

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

DC's lemon law covers new vehicles purchased or registered in the District. The presumption of a lemon arises after 4 repair attempts for the same defect, 30+ days out of service, or 1 failed repair of a braking or steering defect.