States
Colorado lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-10-101 to 42-10-110, as amended by SB 24-192 (in force August 2024) asks before a manufacturer must repurchase or replace a car, the steps on the way and the last day to act.
Does your car meet the Colorado lemon law tests?
Colorado, November 5, 2026 read in the statute
The presumption appears to be met
| Protection period | 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first: until January 5, 2028 or 24,000 miles. You are inside it. |
| Repair attempts, same defect | Met: needs 3, you have 3 |
| Serious safety defect | Not met: needs 2 attempts, you have no safety defect |
| Days out of service | Not met: needs 24 business days, you have 12 |
| Also | The 2-attempt test is for a safety-based defect: a risk of death or serious injury, or of fire or explosion. The manufacturer chooses between replacement and refund. |
| Notice | Written notice by certified mail stating that one or more repair attempts were made; the manufacturer has 10 business days to repair, and that repair counts as an attempt. |
| Dispute step | Section 42-10-106, on dispute procedures, was not read. |
| File a lawsuit by July 5, 2028 (608 days left) | Within 30 months of delivery; the time is suspended during arbitration under § 42-10-106 and while the car is unavailable because of repairs (SB 24-192). |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-10-101 to 42-10-110, as amended by SB 24-192 (in force August 2024) · Colorado Attorney General
The Colorado lemon law in detailColorado rewrote its lemon law in 2024. Senate Bill 24-192, in force since August 2024 according to the Attorney General’s advisory of that month, lowered the tests in article 10 of title 42 of the Colorado Revised Statutes: a new motor vehicle is presumed a lemon within two years or 24,000 miles when the same defect survives three repair attempts, when a safety-based defect survives two, or when the car has been out of service for 24 business days. The owner writes by certified mail, the manufacturer has ten business days to repair, and that repair counts as an attempt. The time to file is 30 months from delivery, suspended during arbitration and while the car is unavailable because of repairs. We read the signed act in an archived copy of September 6, 2025, and the bill page in an archived copy of April 15, 2026, not the consolidated code.
When is the last day to act?
File a lawsuit, Colorado
March 5, 2028
| Days from today | 486 left |
| Rule: Within 30 months of delivery; the time is suspended during arbitration under § 42-10-106 and while the car is unavailable because of repairs (SB 24-192). | |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
What changed in 2024
The act moved Colorado from four attempts and 30 business days to three attempts and 24 business days, and added a test for safety-based defects: a risk of death or serious injury, or of fire or explosion. Owners whose cars were delivered before August 2024 should check which version applies to them. The bill number, SB 24-192, is the reference to quote in a letter.
How the deduction works
The formula counts two kinds of miles: those before the first presentation for repair, and those driven later for reasons other than repair. The total, times the price, divided by 100,000, is the deduction. The manufacturer picks between replacement and refund. We did not read section 42-10-106, the dispute procedure, so this page gives no dispute step for Colorado. Used vehicles are outside the article, apart from the rules on reselling a repurchased vehicle.
The Colorado lemon law at a glance
| Law | Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-10-101 to 42-10-110, as amended by SB 24-192 (in force August 2024) |
| Protection period | 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| Repair attempts | 3 attempts on the same defect |
| Serious safety defect | 2 attempts for a serious safety defect |
| Days out of service | 24 business days |
| Also | The 2-attempt test is for a safety-based defect: a risk of death or serious injury, or of fire or explosion. The manufacturer chooses between replacement and refund. |
| Written notice | Written notice by certified mail stating that one or more repair attempts were made; the manufacturer has 10 business days to repair, and that repair counts as an attempt. |
| Dispute step | Not stated. Section 42-10-106, on dispute procedures, was not read. |
| Deadline | Within 30 months of delivery; the time is suspended during arbitration under § 42-10-106 and while the car is unavailable because of repairs (SB 24-192). |
| Use offset in a buyback | Price × (miles before the first presentation for repair + later miles not for repair) ÷ 100,000 (SB 24-192). |
| Vehicles covered | Passenger cars, pickups and vans for up to 10 people, sold in Colorado. Not motor homes, vehicles with 3 wheels or fewer, or vehicles modified for commercial use. The 2024 amendment lowered the tests from four attempts and 30 business days. |
| Used cars | The article does not apply to used vehicles (§ 42-10-110), but a repurchased vehicle resold follows §§ 42-10-108 and 42-10-109. |
| State page | Colorado Attorney General |
| Level of reading | read in the statute |
| What we read | Signed act SB 24-192 in an archived copy of September 6, 2025, the legislature’s bill page in an archived copy of April 15, 2026, and the Attorney General’s advisory of August 6, 2024, read on November 1, 2026. The consolidated code was not read. |
From written notice to a decision
Certified mail, return receipt requested.
Earliest decisionbetween Oct 30, 2026 and Dec 9, 2026
1. Done · milestone
Written notice reaches the manufacturer
Oct 16, 2026
Written notice by certified mail stating that one or more repair attempts were made; the manufacturer has 10 business days to repair, and that repair counts as an attempt.
Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-10-101 to 42-10-110, as amended by SB 24-192 (in force August 2024)2. Done · 2 weeks
Final repair window
Oct 30, 2026
10 business days to repair after the certified-mail notice (SB 24-192).
Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-10-101 to 42-10-110, as amended by SB 24-192 (in force August 2024)3. In progress · 0 day – 6 weeks
Dispute program decides
Oct 30, 2026 – Dec 9, 2026
A program that follows 16 CFR Part 703 must decide within 40 days of receiving your dispute. Section 42-10-106, on dispute procedures, was not read.
16 CFR 703.5(d)4. Upcoming · milestone
Accept, refuse or go further
Oct 30, 2026 – Dec 9, 2026
Within 30 months of delivery; the time is suspended during arbitration under § 42-10-106 and while the car is unavailable because of repairs (SB 24-192).