Hawaii · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
Motor Vehicle Express Warranty Enforcement (Hawaii Lemon Law) (Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481I (§§ 481I-1 to 481I-4)) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Hawaii, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
Your car is presumed a lemon if, during the rights period: the same defect has been examined or repaired at least 3 times and still exists; a defect likely to cause death or serious injury has been examined or repaired at least once and still exists; or the car has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more business days. These presumptions apply only if the manufacturer received a written report of the defect from you and had a reasonable chance to repair it. Hawaii law does not give the manufacturer an extra 'final repair attempt' after the presumption is met.
Period: The Lemon Law rights period ends when the first of these happens: the manufacturer's express warranty runs out, 2 years pass from original delivery, or the car reaches 24,000 miles.
You must report the defect to the manufacturer in writing during the Lemon Law rights period, at the address given in the Notice of Consumer Rights the dealer gave you at purchase. This written notice is required only if you received that notice from the dealer. No special mailing method is set by the statute.
Hawaii runs its own state arbitration program and does not certify manufacturer programs; the law does not require you to use any program before going to court. To use SCAP you pay a $50 filing fee (refunded if you win), the manufacturer pays $200, and a decision is due within 45 days after your case starts. If you choose nonbinding arbitration, either side can demand a new trial in court within 30 days of the award.
A replacement vehicle, or a refund of the full purchase price (including trade-in allowance, undercoating, dealer prep, transportation and installed options) plus collateral charges (such as finance and interest charges, general excise tax, license, registration and title fees) and incidental charges (such as towing and alternative transportation; not loss of use, lost income or injury claims). The manufacturer deducts a reasonable offset for use: 1% of the purchase price for every 1,000 miles you drove up to the 3rd repair attempt, the 1st repair of a dangerous defect, or the 30th business day out of service, whichever came first. An extra deduction can be made for damage beyond normal wear and tear not caused by the defect.
Attorney fees: Possibly. The winner of a state arbitration decision 'may be allowed' reasonable attorney's fees, and a party who demands a court trial after nonbinding arbitration and does not improve its result by at least 25% must pay the other side's reasonable costs and attorney's fees.
Deadline: Any action under the Lemon Law must be started within 1 year after the Lemon Law rights period ends (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 481I-3(j)); the state program applies the same 1-year deadline to arbitration filings.
Yes. Hawaii requires dealers to give a written warranty on most used cars covering parts and labor for major parts (engine, transmission, brakes, steering and more): 90 days/5,000 miles under 25,000 miles; 60 days/3,000 miles for 25,000-49,999 miles; 30 days/1,000 miles for 50,000-75,000 miles (Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481J). It does not apply to cars sold for under $1,500, cars over 75,000 miles, or cars 5 or more years old, among other exemptions.
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 in writing during the Lemon Law rights period, at the address given in the Notice of Consumer Rights the dealer gave you at purchase. This written notice is required only if you received that notice from the dealer. No special mailing method is set by the statute. 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.
Your car is presumed a lemon if, during the rights period: the same defect has been examined or repaired at least 3 times and still exists; a defect likely to cause death or serious injury has been examined or repaired at least once and still exists; or the car has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more business days. These presumptions apply only if the manufacturer received a written report of the defect from you and had a reasonable chance to repair it. Hawaii law does not give the manufacturer an extra 'final repair attempt' after the presumption is met.
The Lemon Law rights period ends when the first of these happens: the manufacturer's express warranty runs out, 2 years pass from original delivery, or the car reaches 24,000 miles.
You must report the defect to the manufacturer in writing during the Lemon Law rights period, at the address given in the Notice of Consumer Rights the dealer gave you at purchase. This written notice is required only if you received that notice from the dealer. No special mailing method is set by the statute.
Hawaii runs its own state arbitration program and does not certify manufacturer programs; the law does not require you to use any program before going to court. To use SCAP you pay a $50 filing fee (refunded if you win), the manufacturer pays $200, and a decision is due within 45 days after your case starts. If you choose nonbinding arbitration, either side can demand a new trial in court within 30 days of the award.
A replacement vehicle, or a refund of the full purchase price (including trade-in allowance, undercoating, dealer prep, transportation and installed options) plus collateral charges (such as finance and interest charges, general excise tax, license, registration and title fees) and incidental charges (such as towing and alternative transportation; not loss of use, lost income or injury claims). The manufacturer deducts a reasonable offset for use: 1% of the purchase price for every 1,000 miles you drove up to the 3rd repair attempt, the 1st repair of a dangerous defect, or the 30th business day out of service, whichever came first. An extra deduction can be made for damage beyond normal wear and tear not caused by the defect.
Any action under the Lemon Law must be started within 1 year after the Lemon Law rights period ends (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 481I-3(j)); the state program applies the same 1-year deadline to arbitration filings.
Yes. Hawaii requires dealers to give a written warranty on most used cars covering parts and labor for major parts (engine, transmission, brakes, steering and more): 90 days/5,000 miles under 25,000 miles; 60 days/3,000 miles for 25,000-49,999 miles; 30 days/1,000 miles for 50,000-75,000 miles (Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481J). It does not apply to cars sold for under $1,500, cars over 75,000 miles, or cars 5 or more years old, among other exemptions.
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.