Ohio Lemon Law (OH)

Qualifying Criteria in Ohio

Under Ohio'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 Ohio
• 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 1 year 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 3 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, must replace or refund. Consumer may also recover attorney fees and damages.

Available Remedies

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

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

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 Ohio

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

1. 1 Report the defect to the manufacturer or authorized dealer
2. 2 Allow at least 3 repair attempts for the same defect, or 1 attempt for a condition likely to cause death or serious injury, or 30+ calendar days out of service, or 8+ total repair attempts for any combination of defects
3. 3 Notify the manufacturer in writing
4. 4 Use the manufacturer's dispute resolution program if certified
5. 5 File a lawsuit in common pleas court if unresolved

Arbitration in Ohio

Consumer must use the manufacturer's informal dispute resolution procedure if certified by the Ohio Attorney General.

Important: In Ohio, 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 1 year of delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever is earlier.

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

Ohio has multiple qualifying thresholds: 3 same-defect attempts, 1 attempt for safety defects, 30 days out of service, or 8 total repairs. The 8-total-attempts threshold is unique. Covers new vehicles purchased in Ohio.