The Lemon Law
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-179 — four repairs, or thirty days out of service, in two years or 24,000 miles
A defect reported to the manufacturer or its dealer within two years of delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever ends first, is repaired even after that period ends. If the manufacturer cannot fix a defect that substantially impairs the car's use, safety or value after a reasonable number of attempts, it replaces the car or takes it back and refunds the full contract price, less a reasonable allowance for use.
Who handles this in Connecticut: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Connecticut directory.
- A reasonable number of attempts is presumed when the same defect was repaired four or more times in that period and continues.
- Or when the car was out of service for repairs thirty or more calendar days in all during it.
- Or, for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, when it was repaired at least twice within the warranty term or one year of delivery and continues.
- A car returned this way is resold only with a written disclosure, and its title is stamped MANUFACTURER BUYBACK-LEMON.
Sources for this section (1)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-179 — New motor vehicle warranties. Leased vehicles. Resales. Transfers. Manufacturer buybacks. Fine. Hearing. Regulations
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Connecticut attorney.