STANDARDS OF THE OHIO LEMON LAW
The following is a brief explanation of most relevant provisions of the Ohio lemon law.
The complete text of the lemon law can be found at Ohio Rev. Code Ann. Sec. 1345.71 et
seq.
VEHICLES COVERED
The Ohio lemon law covers (1) a passenger car, (2) a noncommercial motor vehicle, or
(3) those parts of any motor home that are not part of the permanently installed
facilities used for cold storage, cooking, eating and sleeping.
A “passenger car” is any motor vehicle that is designed and used for carrying not more
than nine persons and includes any motor vehicle that is designed and used for carrying
not more than fifteen persons in a ridesharing arrangement. Guidance from the
Attorney General’s Office indicates that a pick-up truck used exclusively for business
purposes is not covered by the lemon law.
A “noncommercial motor vehicle” is any motor vehicle, including a farm truck, that is
designed by the manufacturer to carry a load of no more than one ton and is used
exclusively for purposes other than engaging in business for profit.
CONSUMERS COVERED
The lemon law covers the following “consumers”:
1. The purchaser, other than for purposes of resale, of a motor vehicle;
2. Any lessee of a motor vehicle for 30 days or more while title remains in the name of a
person other than the user;
3. Any person to whom the vehicle is transferred during the duration of the
manufacturer’s written vehicle warranty; and
4. Any other person entitled by the terms of the warranty to enforce the warranty.
The lemon law appears to cover a subsequent transferee if the vehicle is acquired during
the warranty period.
VEHICLE CONVERTERS
The lemon law does not apply to vehicle converters.
PROBLEMS COVERED
The lemon law covers any “nonconformity”, which it defines as a defect or condition
that:
1. Substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of a motor vehicle to the consumer;
and
2. Does not conform to the express written warranty of the manufacturer or distributor.
More at: bbb.org/us/auto-line/state-lemon-laws/
