Illinois lemon law and warranty dispute resources
Status: Official page read; key points summarized. Last checked 2026-10-18.
What the official page says
Source: Things You Should Know About... Lemon Law (Illinois Attorney General) (read 2026-10-18). This is a summary of that page, not the statute. Exact tests, exclusions and deadlines are on the official page and in the statute, and may have changed.
- The publication says that to be covered by the Illinois Lemon Law a vehicle must have a nonconformity that substantially impairs use, market value or safety and is not repairable in at least four attempts for the same repair, or be out of service for a total of 30 or more business days.
- The publication says the law covers new cars (purchased or leased), light trucks and vans under 8,000 pounds, recreational vehicles (excluding trailers), vehicles in their first 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first, and new vehicles purchased in Illinois; it does not cover used cars, altered or modified vehicles, motorcycles or boats.
- The publication says manufacturers set up an Industry Third Party Dispute Resolution Program, that you start by contacting the designated manufacturer representative (information is in the owner's manual), and that claims cannot be initiated directly through the dealer.
- The publication warns that many consumers lost their remedy by waiting longer than 12 months from the purchase date, the period in which complaints must be filed.
- The publication says a favorable Dispute Board ruling can mean a replacement vehicle of like or similar value or a buy-back less value for miles driven, and that a dissatisfied consumer may bring a civil action while the manufacturer may not dispute the board's decision.
Numbers the page states
| Item | As stated on the official page |
|---|---|
| Coverage period | First 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first |
| Repair attempts | At least four attempts for the same repair |
| Days out of service | 30 or more business days |
| Weight limit (light trucks/vans) | Under 8,000 pounds |
Counting rules differ (calendar days vs. business days, what counts as a repair attempt). Use the repair log tool to organize dates, then confirm how your state counts.
Not covered or not confirmed in this summary
- The statute (815 ILCS 380) was not read for this summary, so no suit deadline is stated here. Check it on ilga.gov.
Other official pages used
Industry arbitration program summary (not a government source)
BBB National Programs, which runs the BBB AUTO LINE dispute program, publishes a state summary: BBB AUTO LINE: Illinois lemon law summary (link checked 2026-10-18). It is published by an industry-linked program, so treat it as a starting point and confirm against the state's own page or statute.
What to do first
- Keep every repair order and receipt. See the records checklist.
- Write down dates and mileage for each repair visit with the repair log tool (nothing is saved or sent).
- Read the federal warranty basics and arbitration pages.
- Consider speaking with a licensed attorney in your state about deadlines. Many have free consultations, but we do not recommend any specific one.