Washington Lemon Law (WA)

Qualifying Criteria in Washington

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

• Vehicle type: New motor vehicles purchased or leased in Washington
• 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 2 years of delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first
• Repair attempts: The manufacturer or authorized dealer must have attempted to repair the same defect at least 4 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. Washington's Attorney General administers the arbitration program.

Available Remedies

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

• Replacement vehicle
• Full refund minus reasonable use allowance
• Attorney fees and costs if consumer prevails in court

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 Washington

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

1. 1 Report the defect to the authorized dealer or manufacturer
2. 2 Allow at least 4 repair attempts for the same defect, or 2 attempts for a condition likely to cause death or serious injury, or 30+ calendar days out of service
3. 3 Send written notice to the manufacturer by certified mail
4. 4 File with the Washington Attorney General's New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board
5. 5 Attend the hearing
6. 6 Accept or appeal the decision to superior court within 30 days

Arbitration in Washington

Consumer must use the state-administered arbitration program through the Washington Attorney General's office. New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board handles hearings.

Important: In Washington, 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 24 months of delivery or the warranty period.

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

Washington requires only 2 repair attempts for safety defects. The state runs a well-regarded arbitration program. Consumer may recover attorney fees if prevailing in court. Covers new vehicles sold in Washington.