Colorado · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
Colorado Motor Vehicle Lemon Law (Motor Vehicle Repairs – Manufacturer Warranties), as updated by Senate Bill 24-192 (Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-10-101 to 42-10-110) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Colorado, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
Within 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first), your car is presumed a lemon if: (1) the same defect was repaired 3 or more times and still exists; (2) the car was out of service for repairs a total of 24 or more business days; or (3) a safety defect (one likely to cause death or serious injury, or a risk of fire or explosion) was repaired 2 or more times and still exists. The defect must substantially impair the car's use and market value, or its safety. The presumption only applies if you first sent the manufacturer written notice by certified mail and gave it 10 business days to fix the defect; that final attempt counts as one of the repair attempts.
Period: 2 years from original delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever comes first (for vehicles sold or leased on or after August 7, 2024).
Send the manufacturer written notice by certified mail (you or someone on your behalf) stating that one or more repair attempts have been made on the same defect and it remains. The manufacturer then has 10 business days after receiving it to fix the defect. Without this notice, the lemon presumption does not apply.
Colorado has no state-run program. If the manufacturer has or participates in an informal dispute program that substantially 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 lawsuit deadline is paused while you are in that arbitration.
The manufacturer chooses whether to replace the car with a comparable vehicle or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including sales tax, license and registration fees, and similar government charges. It may subtract a use allowance: total contract price (or lessee cost) × (miles driven before you first brought the car in for the defect, plus miles driven later while it was not in the shop) ÷ 100,000.
Attorney fees: The lemon law itself does not provide for attorney fees; it keeps your rights under other state and federal laws.
Deadline: File suit within 30 months after original delivery; the clock pauses while you are in the manufacturer's arbitration program and while the car cannot be used because it is being repaired (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-10-107, as amended by SB 24-192).
The lemon law does not apply to used vehicles or to licensed used-car dealers, except for the 'Lemon Law Buyback' disclosure rules, which do protect used-car buyers.
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. Send the manufacturer written notice by certified mail (you or someone on your behalf) stating that one or more repair attempts have been made on the same defect and it remains. The manufacturer then has 10 business days after receiving it to fix the defect. Without this notice, the lemon presumption does not apply. 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 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first), your car is presumed a lemon if: (1) the same defect was repaired 3 or more times and still exists; (2) the car was out of service for repairs a total of 24 or more business days; or (3) a safety defect (one likely to cause death or serious injury, or a risk of fire or explosion) was repaired 2 or more times and still exists. The defect must substantially impair the car's use and market value, or its safety. The presumption only applies if you first sent the manufacturer written notice by certified mail and gave it 10 business days to fix the defect; that final attempt counts as one of the repair attempts.
2 years from original delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever comes first (for vehicles sold or leased on or after August 7, 2024).
Send the manufacturer written notice by certified mail (you or someone on your behalf) stating that one or more repair attempts have been made on the same defect and it remains. The manufacturer then has 10 business days after receiving it to fix the defect. Without this notice, the lemon presumption does not apply.
Colorado has no state-run program. If the manufacturer has or participates in an informal dispute program that substantially 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 lawsuit deadline is paused while you are in that arbitration.
The manufacturer chooses whether to replace the car with a comparable vehicle or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including sales tax, license and registration fees, and similar government charges. It may subtract a use allowance: total contract price (or lessee cost) × (miles driven before you first brought the car in for the defect, plus miles driven later while it was not in the shop) ÷ 100,000.
File suit within 30 months after original delivery; the clock pauses while you are in the manufacturer's arbitration program and while the car cannot be used because it is being repaired (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-10-107, as amended by SB 24-192).
The lemon law does not apply to used vehicles or to licensed used-car dealers, except for the 'Lemon Law Buyback' disclosure rules, which do protect used-car buyers.
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.