For complete information on the Wisconsin Lemon Law, please review the program information:
What qualifies as a “lemon”?
Your vehicle may qualify as a “lemon” if all the following are true:
- You bought or leased a new vehicle
- The vehicle is a car, truck, motorcycle, or motor home
- The vehicle developed a defect or defects (a nonconformity) during its first year and before the warranty expired
- The defect seriously harms the vehicle’s use, value, or safety
- One of the following happened during the vehicle’s first year and before the warranty expired:
- The dealer failed 4 times to fix the same nonconformity
- The vehicle was unable to be operated (“out of service”) for 30 days or more due to defects
What does not qualify as a “lemon"?
- Mopeds, semitrailers, or trailers designed for use in combination with a truck or truck tractor are not covered by the Wisconsin Lemon Law.
- Vehicles purchased outside the state of Wisconsin or purchased online and delivered outside Wisconsin
- If the vehicle was purchased in another state, contact that state’s transportation department to determine what your rights might be under law
- Used vehicles are not considered “lemons”. If you have issues with a used vehicle purchased from a Wisconsin dealer, you may want to
file a dealer complaint.
Recent Changes to Wisconsin Lemon Law
- On March 1, 2014, changes to the Wisconsin Lemon Law were put into effect. If you purchased a new vehicle prior to March 1, 2014, and you believe the vehicle may be a “lemon”, please contact the Lemon Law program specialist:
WisLemonLaw@dot.wi.gov.
- Effective March 2, 2016, the MV2692 Vehicle Warranty Repair Request/Nonconformity Report form is no longer required to be used by consumers when submitting a lemon law claim to a manufacturer.
Questions?