Arizona · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
Arizona Motor Vehicle Warranties Act (Arizona Lemon Law) (Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 44-1261 to 44-1267) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Arizona, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
Within the warranty term or 2 years/24,000 miles (whichever is shortest), your car is presumed a lemon if: (1) the same defect was repaired 4 or more times and is still there; or (2) the car was out of service for repairs a total of 30 or more calendar days. The defect must substantially impair the car's use and value. The presumption only works against the manufacturer if it first got direct written notice of the defect from you (or someone on your behalf) and had a chance to fix it.
Period: The manufacturer's express warranty term or 2 years or 24,000 miles from original delivery, whichever is shortest. You must report the defect within this period.
You must report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent, or its dealer during the coverage period. To use the lemon presumption, the manufacturer must have received direct written notice of the defect from you and had a chance to fix it. The law does not require a specific delivery method such as certified mail.
Arizona has no state-run program. If the manufacturer runs or takes part in an informal dispute program that fully complies with federal rules (16 CFR Part 703), you must use it before you can get a refund or replacement under the lemon law. The Attorney General points consumers to the BBB AUTO LINE program.
The manufacturer must replace the car with a new one or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including all collateral charges, minus a reasonable allowance for your use. The use allowance covers only your use before your first written report of the defect and while the car was not in the shop for repairs. On a refund, the manufacturer must also refund the sales (transaction privilege) tax attributed to the sale.
Attorney fees: Yes. If you win a lemon law lawsuit, the court must award you reasonable costs and attorney fees.
Deadline: File suit within 6 months after the earlier of the end of the express warranty or 2 years/24,000 miles from original delivery (A.R.S. § 44-1265(B)).
Arizona has a used-car lemon law (A.R.S. § 44-1267). A used-car dealer must give an implied warranty that the car will be fit for ordinary use for 15 days or 500 miles, whichever comes first; you must give the dealer notice and a reasonable chance to repair, you pay half of the first two repairs (up to $25 each), and the dealer's liability is capped at the purchase price.
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. You must report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent, or its dealer during the coverage period. To use the lemon presumption, the manufacturer must have received direct written notice of the defect from you and had a chance to fix it. The law does not require a specific delivery method such as certified mail. Fill this in, copy the letter, sign it and send it by certified mail with return receipt. Keep a copy. Nothing you type here is sent to us; the letter is made in your browser.
Within the warranty term or 2 years/24,000 miles (whichever is shortest), your car is presumed a lemon if: (1) the same defect was repaired 4 or more times and is still there; or (2) the car was out of service for repairs a total of 30 or more calendar days. The defect must substantially impair the car's use and value. The presumption only works against the manufacturer if it first got direct written notice of the defect from you (or someone on your behalf) and had a chance to fix it.
The manufacturer's express warranty term or 2 years or 24,000 miles from original delivery, whichever is shortest. You must report the defect within this period.
You must report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent, or its dealer during the coverage period. To use the lemon presumption, the manufacturer must have received direct written notice of the defect from you and had a chance to fix it. The law does not require a specific delivery method such as certified mail.
Arizona has no state-run program. If the manufacturer runs or takes part in an informal dispute program that fully complies with federal rules (16 CFR Part 703), you must use it before you can get a refund or replacement under the lemon law. The Attorney General points consumers to the BBB AUTO LINE program.
The manufacturer must replace the car with a new one or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including all collateral charges, minus a reasonable allowance for your use. The use allowance covers only your use before your first written report of the defect and while the car was not in the shop for repairs. On a refund, the manufacturer must also refund the sales (transaction privilege) tax attributed to the sale.
File suit within 6 months after the earlier of the end of the express warranty or 2 years/24,000 miles from original delivery (A.R.S. § 44-1265(B)).
Arizona has a used-car lemon law (A.R.S. § 44-1267). A used-car dealer must give an implied warranty that the car will be fit for ordinary use for 15 days or 500 miles, whichever comes first; you must give the dealer notice and a reasonable chance to repair, you pay half of the first two repairs (up to $25 each), and the dealer's liability is capped at the purchase price.
Car not covered, or the period has passed? Federal warranty law may still help, and small claims court can handle smaller repair bills.
Federal warranty lawLast checked: Oct 2026.