Maine Lemon Law (ME)

Qualifying Criteria in Maine

Under Maine's lemon law, your vehicle may qualify as a lemon if it meets the following criteria:

• Vehicle type: New and certain used motor vehicles purchased or leased in Maine
• Defect type: A nonconformity that substantially impairs the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle and is covered under the manufacturer's warranty
• Coverage period: The defect must occur within 3 years of delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first
• Repair attempts: The manufacturer or authorized dealer must have attempted to repair the same defect at least 3 times, or the vehicle must have been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days

Manufacturer Obligations

Must repair the nonconformity. If unable, must replace or refund. Maine also allows the consumer to pursue treble damages for knowing violations.

Available Remedies

If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Maine law, you are entitled to:

• Replacement vehicle
• Full refund minus reasonable use allowance
• Treble damages for willful violations

The "reasonable use allowance" deduction is typically calculated based on the mileage you accumulated before the first repair attempt, proportional to the vehicle's expected lifetime mileage. This ensures the manufacturer is not paying for use you already received from the vehicle.

Step-by-Step Filing Process in Maine

Follow these steps if you believe your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Maine law:

1. 1 Report the defect to the dealer or manufacturer
2. 2 Allow at least 3 repair attempts for the same defect or 15+ business days out of service
3. 3 Send written notice to the manufacturer
4. 4 Use the manufacturer's certified arbitration or the state's program
5. 5 File a civil action if arbitration is unsatisfactory

Arbitration in Maine

Consumer must use the manufacturer's arbitration program if state-certified. Maine also runs a state arbitration program through the Attorney General's office.

Important: In Maine, arbitration is a required step before you can file a lawsuit. This means you must exhaust the arbitration process first. The arbitration decision may or may not be binding depending on the specific program. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you typically have the right to appeal or file a civil action in court.

Filing Deadline

Within 3 years from original delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever is earlier.

Missing the filing deadline can forfeit your rights under the lemon law. Keep detailed records of every repair visit, including dates, mileage, descriptions of the problem, and copies of all repair orders and receipts. This documentation will be critical for your claim.

Additional Notes

Maine has one of the longer coverage periods at 3 years/18,000 miles. Also has a used car lemon law requiring dealers to provide a warranty on used cars. Treble damages are available for willful violations, making this one of the stronger lemon laws.