Covered Vehicles

• Idaho's lemon law only covers cars purchased within the state. To come under the Idaho lemon law, these vehicles must be sold with a written express warranty. They must also be less than 12,000 lbs. and primarily used for personal, family, household or personal business purposes. This definition extends to motorcycles, tractors and trailers.
  
  

Duty to Repair

• Manufacturers of covered vehicles have a legal obligation to repair a vehicle that does not conform to the express warranty under which it was sold. By law, the manufacturer or its authorized dealers must repair a nonconformity that impairs the use of value of the vehicle if such nonconformity materializes before the end of the express warranty period, 24,000 miles or two years, whichever comes first.
  
  

Exceptions to Duty to Repair

• A manufacturer is not obligated to repair a vehicle if the nonconformity is the result of unauthorized modification to the vehicle or abuse or neglect by the owner. The nonconformity must also be significant enough to impair the use or market value of the vehicle. Manufacturers are not obligated to repair defects that do not violate the express warranty or which materialize outside of the warranty period.
  
  

Repair Attempts

• The presence of a nonconformity does not make a car a lemon. Instead, a car owner must make at least four attempts to have the nonconformity repaired and the nonconformity must persist before the car is deemed a lemon. The exception is for nonconformities that result in complete failure of the steering or braking system, for which only one unsuccessful repair attempt is necessary. Also, if the vehicle is in repair for a cumulative 30 business days, it will also be deemed a lemon.
  
  

Refund or Replacement

• Manufacturers have a duty to replace a lemon or refund the purchase price. First, however, the owner must give the manufacturer written notice of the unsuccessful repair attempts and make one final repair attempt. If the nonconformity persists, the owner is entitled to a new car or a refund of the purchase price inclusive of taxes and fees but less a reasonable deduction for wear and tear.
  
  

Arbitration

• Under the Idaho lemon law, manufacturers must maintain a consumer arbitration program and may require owners to bring their claims under this program before filing a lawsuit. Though arbitration can yield the same results that would have been produced in a protracted legal battle, arbitrators are not required to apply the law in the same way courts do. If unsatisfied without the outcome of the arbitration, either party may file an appeal within 30 days of the decision.