Ohio lemon law and warranty dispute resources
Status: Official page read; key points summarized. Last checked 2026-10-18.
What the official page says
Source: Lemon Law (Ohio Attorney General, Consumer Tips) (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 page says a lemon is a new motor vehicle with one or more problems, covered by the warranty, that substantially impair its use, value or safety, occurring within the first year or first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first, and that the law applies to passenger cars, motorcycles and other noncommercial vehicles designed to carry no more than a one-ton load and used exclusively for personal use.
- The page says the manufacturer is presumed to have had a reasonable opportunity to repair if, in the first year or 18,000 miles, there were three or more attempts on one problem that continues or recurs, the vehicle was in the shop a cumulative 30 days or more, eight or more attempts on different problems, or one unsuccessful attempt on a problem that could cause death or serious injury.
- The page says to request a replacement or refund you send a certified letter to the manufacturer listing the problems, repair attempts and VIN, and say whether you want replacement or a refund of the full purchase price (including transportation, dealer prep, taxes, license and registration fees, and financing costs).
- The page says the Attorney General's Office approves manufacturer arbitration programs; if a program is approved you must go through arbitration before you can file a lawsuit, and that a civil suit must be filed within five years of delivery of the vehicle.
Numbers the page states
| Item | As stated on the official page |
|---|---|
| Protection period | First 12 months or first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| Repair attempts | Three or more on one problem; eight or more on different problems |
| Days out of service | 30 or more cumulative days |
| Time to sue | Within five years of delivery |
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
- Only what the official page states is summarized. The statute text itself was not compared line by line.
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: Ohio 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.