States
North Dakota lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What N.D. Cent. Code §§ 51-07-16 to 51-07-22 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 North Dakota lemon law tests?
North Dakota, November 5, 2026 read in the statute
Not yet: one more repair attempt
| Protection period | 1 year or the warranty term, whichever ends first: until January 5, 2027. You are inside it. |
| Repair attempts, same defect | Not met: needs 4, you have 3 |
| Days out of service | Not met: needs 30 business days, you have 12 |
| Also | “More than three times”: the 4th attempt triggers the presumption. |
| Notice | Prior direct notification to the manufacturer and an opportunity to cure (§ 51-07-19). |
| Dispute step | A binding appeals, arbitration or mediation board the manufacturer belongs to must be used first; hearing in North Dakota (§ 51-07-18). |
| File a lawsuit by July 5, 2027 (242 days left) | Lawsuit within 6 months after the warranty ends or 18 months after delivery, whichever is earlier (§ 51-07-21). |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. N.D. Cent. Code §§ 51-07-16 to 51-07-22
The North Dakota lemon law in detailNorth Dakota’s lemon law, sections 51-07-16 to 51-07-22 of the Century Code, read on the legislature’s site on November 1, 2026, protects passenger motor vehicles during the warranty term or the first year after delivery, whichever ends first. The text speaks of a defect repaired “more than three times”, so the fourth attempt meets the test; the other route is 30 business days out of service. The owner must give the manufacturer direct notice and a chance to cure. If the manufacturer belongs to a binding appeals, arbitration or mediation board, the owner must use it first, and the hearing must be held in North Dakota. The refund allowance is limited to ten cents a mile or ten percent of the price, whichever is less. A lawsuit is due within six months after the warranty ends or 18 months after delivery, whichever is earlier.
When is the last day to act?
File a lawsuit, North Dakota
March 5, 2027
| Days from today | 120 left |
| Rule: Lawsuit within 6 months after the warranty ends or 18 months after delivery, whichever is earlier (§ 51-07-21). | |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
A hearing at home
North Dakota’s requirement that a manufacturer board hold its hearing in the state matters in a large, rural state: an owner does not have to travel to defend the claim. The board comes first, but the hearing comes to the owner.
The offset cap is one of the most protective in the country. On a $45,000 car driven 8,000 miles before the first report, the ten-cent rule gives $800, well under the ten percent cap of $4,500, so $800 is the most the manufacturer may deduct.
The North Dakota lemon law at a glance
| Law | N.D. Cent. Code §§ 51-07-16 to 51-07-22 |
| Protection period | 1 year or the warranty term, whichever ends first |
| Repair attempts | 4 attempts on the same defect |
| Serious safety defect | no separate test |
| Days out of service | 30 business days |
| Also | “More than three times”: the 4th attempt triggers the presumption. |
| Written notice | Prior direct notification to the manufacturer and an opportunity to cure (§ 51-07-19). |
| Dispute step | Manufacturer program first. A binding appeals, arbitration or mediation board the manufacturer belongs to must be used first; hearing in North Dakota (§ 51-07-18). |
| Deadline | Lawsuit within 6 months after the warranty ends or 18 months after delivery, whichever is earlier (§ 51-07-21). |
| Use offset in a buyback | At most 10 cents a mile or 10% of the price, whichever is less (§ 51-07-18). |
| Vehicles covered | Passenger motor vehicles. |
| 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
Prior direct notification to the manufacturer and an opportunity to cure (§ 51-07-19).
N.D. Cent. Code §§ 51-07-16 to 51-07-222. Done · milestone
Final repair attempt
Oct 16, 2026
No fixed number of days for this step in the North Dakota 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. A binding appeals, arbitration or mediation board the manufacturer belongs to must be used first; hearing in North Dakota (§ 51-07-18).
16 CFR 703.5(d)4. Upcoming · milestone
Accept, refuse or go further
Oct 16, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026
Lawsuit within 6 months after the warranty ends or 18 months after delivery, whichever is earlier (§ 51-07-21).