These pages contain information that applies only to motor homes.
Motor Homes NOT covered are:
- Portions of a motor home used as dwelling, office, or commercial space. (Only the self-propelled
vehicle and chassis portions of a motor home are covered);
- Vehicles purchased or leased by a business as part of a fleet of 10 or more.
Which Vehicles Are Eligible?
The law covers most classes of motor vehicles including “demonstrators” which have an original retail purchase or lease in Washington.
Note: if the vehicle had it’s original retail sale or lease prior to July 23, 2007, an additional eligibility requirement is that it must have also been initially registered in Washington (a military exception may apply).
An owner can request an arbitration under Lemon Law at any time within 30 months of the vehicle’s original retail delivery date.
You do not have to be the original owner to request arbitration. Later owners of a vehicle may request an arbitration if: the vehicle was purchased within two years of delivery to the original retail consumer and within the first 24,000 miles of operation; the vehicle meets the other eligibility requirements; and the Request For Arbitration is received by the Lemon Law Administration within 30 months of the original retail delivery date
What Is A “Lemon”?
The law covers only defects which “substantially impair” the use, value, or safety of the motor vehicle (see What You Must Prove At The Hearing). The Lemon Law does not cover defects in the portions of a motor home used as dwelling, office, or commercial space, or vehicles purchased or leased by a business as part of a fleet of 10 or more. The law does not cover problems caused by owner abuse or negligence, or any unauthorized modifications or alterations made to the vehicle.
Your motor home may qualify as a “lemon” if it has one or more substantial defects that have been subject to a “reasonable number of attempts” to diagnose or repair the problem(s) under the manufacturer’s warranty.
A “reasonable number of attempts” for motor homes means:
1. A ‘serious safety defect’ has been subject to diagnosis or repair one or more times during the period of coverage of the applicable motor home manufacturer’s written warranty, plus a final attempt to repair, and the defect continues to exist.
A “serious safety defect” is a life-threatening malfunction that impairs the driver’s ability to control or operate the vehicle, or creates a risk of fire or explosion.
OR
2. A ‘nonconformity’ has been subject to diagnosis or repair three or more times, at least one of the times during the period of the applicable manufacturer’s written warranty. plus a final attempt to repair, and the nonconformity continues to exist.
A “nonconformity” is a defect that “substantially impairs” the use, value or safety of the motor vehicle so as to make the vehicle unreliable, unsafe or diminished in resale value for comparable vehicles.
OR
3. the motor home has been out of service by reason of diagnosis or repair of one or more nonconformities, for a cumulative total of 30 calendar days (aggregating days out of service for all the motor home’s manufacturers) plus an opportunity for a final attempt to repair by all the manufacturers that brings the combined total days out-of service to 60 or more days.
Note: If a motor home manufacturer fails to respond to the consumer’s notice of the request for a final repair within the time limit or fails to perform the repairs within the allowed time period, that motor home manufacturer loses its opportunity for the final repair attempt.
You Have a "Lemon" – What Should You Do?
Contact the Lemon Law Administration for more information and detailed instructions. Ask for the Lemon Law Motor Home Booklet and the Request for Arbitration Form. Read through the information listed below about the Arbitration Process.
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Before Requesting Arbitration | Completing the Form | After Requesting Arbitration | Arbitration Process | Arbitration Decision | Replacement or Repurchase? | Contact Us