Kentucky lemon law and warranty dispute resources
Status: Official page read; key points summarized. Last checked 2026-10-18.
What the official page says
Source: KRS 367.841 and 367.842, New motor vehicle lemon law (Kentucky Legislature) (read 2026-10-18). This is a summary of the statute text posted on the official site, not legal advice. The exact wording, exclusions and deadlines are in the statute itself, and may have changed.
- The statute text (KRS 367.841) says a 'buyer' is a resident person who buys, contracts to buy, or leases a new motor vehicle in Kentucky, and that 'motor vehicle' does not include motor homes, motorcycles, mopeds, farm tractors, vehicles with more than two axles, or vehicles substantially altered after the initial sale.
- The statute text (KRS 367.842) says that if the manufacturer cannot repair a defect that substantially impairs use, value or safety after a reasonable number of attempts within the first 12,000 miles or 12 months after delivery, whichever is earlier, the buyer reports the nonconformity in writing to the manufacturer and may choose a comparable replacement or a refund of the full purchase price (including finance charge, taxes and fees), less a reasonable allowance for use.
- The statute text says a reasonable number of attempts is presumed if, within that 12,000-mile or 12-month period, the same defect has been repaired four or more times and still exists, or the vehicle has been out of service for the same defect for a cumulative total of at least 30 calendar days.
- The statute text says refund or replacement disputes must be resolved through the dispute resolution system under KRS 367.860 to 367.870 or 16 CFR part 703 before seeking judicial relief under KRS 367.843.
Numbers the page states
| Item | As stated on the official page |
|---|---|
| Coverage window | First 12,000 miles or 12 months after delivery, whichever is earlier |
| Repair attempts | Four or more for the same defect |
| Days out of service | At least 30 calendar days |
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 suit deadline (KRS 367.843) and the state dispute system (KRS 367.860 to 367.870) were not read, so none is stated here.
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: Kentucky 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.