Get Compensation for Your Defective Vehicle
Iowa’s Lemon Law protects consumers by ensuring they get a refund or replacement for new, defective vehicles and an Iowa Lemon Law Attorney can help you understand your options.
Passenger vehicles, SUVs, vans, and trucks purchased or leased in Iowa, weighing less than 15,000 lbs, and used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.
“Lemon Law protects owners and lessees of vehicles with persistent defects.” –– Joseph Novel, Esq.
founding attorney
Full refund, incl. taxes, fees, & remaining loan balance.
You’ll receive a new car of equal value.
Under the Iowa Lemon Law, a reasonable number of repair attempts is generally presumed after three failed attempts to fix the same defect that substantially impairs your vehicle. Per Iowa Lemon Law 322G.4, if a nonconformity likely to cause death or serious bodily injury has been subject to repair at least once and still exists, or the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days, the Iowa Lemon Law’s repair presumption also kicks in. If you’re hitting those thresholds, the Iowa Lemon Law may entitle you to a refund or replacement.
Yes, a drivable vehicle can still qualify under the Iowa Lemon Law. Under Iowa Lemon Law 322G.2, “substantially impair” means rendering the vehicle unfit, unreliable, or unsafe for warranted or ordinary use, or significantly diminishing its value. So even if you can still drive it, a recurring safety issue or a defect that keeps coming back after warranty repairs may still meet the Iowa Lemon Law standard. Don’t assume a drivable car rules out an Iowa Lemon Law claim.
Your repair orders are the most important documents in any Iowa Lemon Law case. You’ll also want to keep your warranty, towing and rental receipts tied to warranty repairs, and any written communications with the dealer or manufacturer. The Iowa Lemon Law requires dealers to provide a fully itemized repair order every time your vehicle is examined or repaired, so make sure you’re getting and saving those each visit.
The Iowa Lemon Law primarily covers new or previously untitled motor vehicles purchased or leased in Iowa, so most used vehicles fall outside its scope. That said, if an unexpired manufacturer’s warranty was still in effect when you bought the vehicle, there may be some Iowa Lemon Law protection depending on your specific situation. If you’re unsure whether your used vehicle qualifies, consulting an Iowa Lemon Law attorney is the best way to find out.
Timing varies, but the Iowa Lemon Law does set specific deadlines to keep things moving. If a manufacturer has a certified dispute program, a decision must be rendered within 60 days of notification, and the manufacturer then has up to 30 days to fulfill the terms. If your repair orders clearly show repeat attempts for the same defect or extended time out of service, your Iowa Lemon Law case is likely to move faster. Reach out to an Iowa Lemon Law attorney to get a realistic sense of your timeline.
