States
Iowa lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What Iowa Code ch. 322G 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 Iowa lemon law tests?
Iowa, 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 calendar days, you have 12 |
| Notice | After 3 attempts (or 1 for a safety defect), written notice by certified, registered or overnight mail for a final attempt (§ 322G.4). |
| Dispute step | If the manufacturer has a certified program and told you how to file, you must use it first (§ 322G.6). |
| File a lawsuit by January 5, 2029 (792 days left) | Lawsuit within 1 year after the rights period ends when there is no certified program (§ 322G.8). |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. Iowa Code ch. 322G
The Iowa lemon law in detailIowa’s lemon law, chapter 322G of the Iowa Code, read in the 2026 edition on the legislature’s site on November 1, 2026, covers new and previously untitled vehicles and their lessees during the warranty term, two years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. The presumption applies after three repair attempts on the same nonconformity, or one attempt when it is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, followed in both cases by a written notice and a final attempt; or after 30 calendar days out of service. The final notice must go by certified, registered or overnight mail. If the manufacturer has a certified program and told the owner how to file, the program comes first. Without one, a lawsuit must be filed within one year after the rights period ends.
When is the last day to act?
File a lawsuit, Iowa
September 5, 2028
| Days from today | 670 left |
| Rule: Lawsuit within 1 year after the rights period ends when there is no certified program (§ 322G.8). | |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The Iowa use allowance
Iowa counts the miles that reduce a refund up to a precise moment: the third repair attempt, the first attempt for a safety defect, or the twentieth day out of service. Miles driven after that point cost the owner nothing in the buyback. The statute then applies its own divisor to the price.
Notice in Iowa is part of the test: without the certified, registered or overnight letter and the final attempt that follows, the presumption does not start. The chapter allows any of the three mail services, so a receipt from an overnight courier is as good as a green card from the post office.
The Iowa lemon law at a glance
| Law | Iowa Code ch. 322G |
| 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 calendar days |
| Written notice | After 3 attempts (or 1 for a safety defect), written notice by certified, registered or overnight mail for a final attempt (§ 322G.4). |
| Dispute step | Manufacturer program first. If the manufacturer has a certified program and told you how to file, you must use it first (§ 322G.6). |
| Deadline | Lawsuit within 1 year after the rights period ends when there is no certified program (§ 322G.8). |
| Use offset in a buyback | Miles up to the 3rd attempt (1st for a safety defect, or the 20th day out of service) × purchase price ÷ a statutory divisor (§ 322G.2). |
| Vehicles covered | New or previously untitled vehicles; lessees. |
| Used cars | Not covered. |
| State page | no agency page |
| Level of reading | read in the statute |
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
After 3 attempts (or 1 for a safety defect), written notice by certified, registered or overnight mail for a final attempt (§ 322G.4).
Iowa Code ch. 322G2. Done · milestone
Final repair attempt
Oct 16, 2026
No fixed number of days for this step in the Iowa 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. If the manufacturer has a certified program and told you how to file, you must use it first (§ 322G.6).
16 CFR 703.5(d)4. Upcoming · milestone
Accept, refuse or go further
Oct 16, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026
Lawsuit within 1 year after the rights period ends when there is no certified program (§ 322G.8).