States
Hawaii lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481I 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 Hawaii lemon law tests?
Hawaii, November 5, 2026 read in the statute
The presumption appears to be met
| Protection period | 2 years or 24,000 miles or the warranty term, whichever ends 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 1 attempt, you have no safety defect |
| Days out of service | Not met: needs 30 business days, you have 12 |
| Notice | A written report to the manufacturer during the period, required only if you received the statement of rights the law calls for. The state encourages giving the manufacturer a chance to cure. |
| Dispute step | State Certified Arbitration Program (SCAP), $50 filing fee, returned if you win; binding or non-binding at your choice. The manufacturer has 45 days to carry out a refund or replacement. |
| Request arbitration by January 5, 2029 (792 days left) | SCAP arbitration or a lawsuit within 1 year after the rights period ends. |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481I · Hawaii Regulated Industries Complaints Office
The Hawaii lemon law in detailHawaii’s lemon law, chapter 481I of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, protects a new motor vehicle during the warranty term, two years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. The chapter presumes a reasonable number of attempts after three repairs of the same defect, after one repair of a defect that could cause death or serious bodily injury, or after 30 business days out of service. An owner who received the statement of rights must report the defect to the manufacturer in writing during the period; the state’s handbook encourages giving a chance to cure. The State Certified Arbitration Program hears claims for a $50 filing fee, returned if the owner wins; owners choose binding or non-binding arbitration and must act within one year after the rights period ends. We read the chapter and the handbook as published by the Regulated Industries Complaints Office on November 1, 2026.
When is the last day to act?
Request arbitration, Hawaii
September 5, 2028
| Days from today | 670 left |
| Rule: SCAP arbitration or a lawsuit within 1 year after the rights period ends. | |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Binding or non-binding, your choice in Hawaii
The State Certified Arbitration Program lets the owner decide, before the hearing, whether the decision will bind both sides. A non-binding award leaves the door to court open; a binding one ends the dispute faster. The manufacturer must carry out a refund or replacement within 45 days.
What the deduction counts
Hawaii charges 1 percent of the price for each 1,000 miles, counting only the miles up to the third attempt, the first attempt on a safety defect or the thirtieth day out of service. Later miles do not count. Motorcycles and demonstrators are covered; mopeds, scooters and vehicles over 10,000 pounds are not. A second buyer during the warranty can use the chapter.
The Hawaii lemon law at a glance
| Law | Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481I |
| Protection period | 2 years or 24,000 miles or the warranty term, whichever ends first |
| Repair attempts | 3 attempts on the same defect |
| Serious safety defect | 1 attempt for a serious safety defect |
| Days out of service | 30 business days |
| Written notice | A written report to the manufacturer during the period, required only if you received the statement of rights the law calls for. The state encourages giving the manufacturer a chance to cure. |
| Dispute step | State-run program. State Certified Arbitration Program (SCAP), $50 filing fee, returned if you win; binding or non-binding at your choice. The manufacturer has 45 days to carry out a refund or replacement. |
| Deadline | SCAP arbitration or a lawsuit within 1 year after the rights period ends. |
| Use offset in a buyback | 1% of the price per 1,000 miles (the same as price × miles ÷ 100,000), counting miles up to the 3rd attempt, the 1st safety attempt or the 30th day. |
| Vehicles covered | New motor vehicles, including motorcycles and demonstrators. Not mopeds or scooters, or vehicles over 10,000 lb gross weight. |
| Used cars | Only a later buyer during the warranty, as a consumer under the chapter. |
| State page | Hawaii Regulated Industries Complaints Office |
| Level of reading | read in the statute |
| What we read | Chapter 481I in the copy published by the Regulated Industries Complaints Office (amended November 2015) and the office’s consumer handbook, read on November 1, 2026. |
From written notice to a decision
Certified mail, return receipt requested.
Earliest decisionbetween Oct 16, 2026 and Nov 25, 2026
1. Done · milestone
Written notice reaches the manufacturer
Oct 16, 2026
A written report to the manufacturer during the period, required only if you received the statement of rights the law calls for. The state encourages giving the manufacturer a chance to cure.
Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481I2. Done · milestone
Final repair attempt
Oct 16, 2026
No fixed number of days for this step in the Hawaii text we read.
3. In progress · 0 day – 6 weeks
Dispute program decides
Oct 16, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026
A program that follows 16 CFR Part 703 must decide within 40 days of receiving your dispute. State Certified Arbitration Program (SCAP), $50 filing fee, returned if you win; binding or non-binding at your choice. The manufacturer has 45 days to carry out a refund or replacement.
16 CFR 703.5(d)4. Upcoming · milestone
Accept, refuse or go further
Oct 16, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026
SCAP arbitration or a lawsuit within 1 year after the rights period ends.