Ohio’s Lemon law covers the original owner of a car, light truck (less than one ton) or motorcycle for one year or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

As with most states, this law is designed to protect owners against defects in safety, value or use. The law, as with most such laws, permits the manufacturer to first make a “reasonable” number of attempts to repair the vehicle. The number of attempts which define “reasonable” can vary greatly from state to state.

Ohio does offer a somewhat more liberal law than most states. In this case, a “reasonable” number of unsuccessful attempts to repair a recurring problem with your vehicle is defined as three, but a vehicle may also be classified as a lemon if one unsuccessful attempt has been made during the warranty period to repair a problem that affects the vehicle’s safety. A defective steering system, or a defective braking system would qualify the vehicle as a lemon after a single unsuccessful repair attempt.  The vehicle will also qualify if the total amount of time spent in the shop during the warranty period equals or exceeds 30 days.

 In addition, if the vehicle has been in the shop for a total of eight times, even for different problems, during the warranty period, it also qualifies as a lemon under the law. This is rather unusual; we haven’t seen this in any other lemon laws of other states.

Ohio does offer an arbitration program, and disputes between auto owners and auto manufacturers may be heard by an arbitrator. If the manufacturer offers an arbitration program within the state, vehicle owners must submit to an arbitration hearing before bringing a lawsuit.  An arbitration hearing is one where both parties present their case before an ostensibly neutral third party. After weighing the information presented by each side, the arbitrator will rule in favor of either one side or the other. Such arbitration is not binding, however, and owners who accept the arbitration process and are unhappy with the outcome may then elect to sue the manufacturer in a court of law. Should this arise, vehicle owners would be well advised to consult with an attorney who is experienced in lemon law cases.

Should the vehicle be declared to be a lemon, either through arbitration or a lawsuit, the law entitles the owner to compensation in the form of either a replacement vehicle of comparable value or a refund, including:

• The price for the car plus the costs for transportation, dealer preparation, delivery, dealer installed accessories, and other services.
• The costs for financing and credit insurance, as well as any warranty and service charges.
• Taxes and any other government charges, including state sales tax, license fees and registration fees.

Vehicles that have been returned to the manufacturer as defective may be resold under Ohio law. The buyer must be notified, in writing, that the car was repurchased by the manufacturer as defective. The nature of the defects must be clearly listed, and the manufacturer must offer an additional warranty.

If you are having concerns with your car, pickup truck or van, you may realize that you need legal assistance. LegalMatch can help find an experienced attorney near where you live. Confidentiality is secure, all legal representatives are licensed, and there is no charge to inquire.

 Details and further information may be found on the Ohio Lemon Law page of the state’s Website.