Under New Hampshire's Lemon Law (RSA 357-D), a manufacturer is presumed to owe you a refund or a replacement vehicle once your new motor vehicle has been through a reasonable number of repair attempts for the same problem and the defect still has not been fixed. New Hampshire defines that threshold concretely: the same substantial defect has been subject to repair three or more times and continues to exist, or the vehicle has been out of service for repair for a cumulative total of 30 or more business days. Either trigger must happen within the law's protection period—the term of the manufacturer's written warranty or one year from the date you took delivery, whichever comes first. If you meet the standard, you can take the manufacturer before the state's New Hampshire New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board and ask it to order a buyback or a comparable new vehicle.
What New Hampshire's Lemon Law actually requires
The core idea is simple: a new vehicle should perform as warranted, and if the manufacturer cannot repair a serious defect after a fair number of tries, it has to take the car back. New Hampshire's statute spells out two ways to show the manufacturer has had enough chances.
- The repeat-repair test. The same defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle has been presented for repair three or more times to the manufacturer, its agent, or an authorized dealer, and the problem still exists.
- The days-out-of-service test. The vehicle has been kept out of service for repairs of one or more defects for a cumulative total of 30 or more business days. These do not have to be consecutive—they add up across the protection period.
When you hit either marker, the law creates a legal presumption that a reasonable number of attempts has been made. The manufacturer can try to rebut that presumption, but you no longer have to prove from scratch that repairs were unreasonable.
Which vehicles and defects qualify
New Hampshire's Lemon Law is aimed at new motor vehicles that are purchased or leased in the state and used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. Leased vehicles are covered, and the law reaches certain business-registered vehicles as well, but it is built around consumer cars, vans, and light trucks. Used vehicles are generally not covered by RSA 357-D, though a used car may still carry rights under the seller's warranty, the federal warranty law, or New Hampshire's general consumer-protection statute.
Not every annoyance qualifies. The defect must substantially impair the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle. A persistent stalling problem, brake failure, a transmission that will not hold, or an electrical fault that disables the car can meet that bar. Minor cosmetic blemishes, normal wear, or problems you caused through abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modification generally do not. The manufacturer is also not on the hook for defects that result from accidents or owner alterations after delivery.
The timeframe you have to watch
Timing is where many otherwise valid claims fall apart. The qualifying repairs and days out of service must occur during the term of protection—the express warranty period or one year after the original delivery date, whichever expires first. Document every repair visit inside that window. Keep dated repair orders that describe the complaint and the work performed, because those records are what establish your three attempts or your 30 business days.
Before you can force a buyback, New Hampshire law expects the manufacturer to get a final opportunity to cure. After the third unsuccessful repair (or once the days threshold is met), provide written notice to the manufacturer and allow it the chance to make one last repair attempt as the statute directs. Follow the notice instructions in your owner's manual or warranty booklet, and send anything important by a method that proves delivery.
How to get a refund or a replacement vehicle
If the defect is still unresolved, New Hampshire routes Lemon Law disputes to the New Hampshire New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, which is administered through the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. This is a state-run board, not the manufacturer's in-house program, which is one reason New Hampshire's process is regarded as relatively consumer-friendly. You file a request for arbitration, pay the filing fee set by the board, and present your repair records and notices. Hearings are designed to be accessible without a lawyer, although you may bring one.