States
Ohio lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1345.71 to 1345.78 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 Ohio lemon law tests?
Ohio, November 5, 2026 read in the statute
The presumption appears to be met
| Protection period | 1 year or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first: until January 5, 2027 or 18,000 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 |
| Also | Or 8 or more attempts on different problems. |
| Notice | The Attorney General recommends a certified letter to the manufacturer listing problems, repair dates and the VIN. |
| Dispute step | A qualified manufacturer mechanism approved by the state must be used first if you were told of it (§ 1345.77). |
| File a lawsuit by January 5, 2031 (1,522 days left) | Lawsuit within 5 years of the original delivery (§ 1345.75). |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1345.71 to 1345.78 · Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio lemon law in detailOhio’s lemon law, sections 1345.71 to 1345.78 of the Ohio Revised Code, protects a new car for one year or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. Section 1345.73 presumes a reasonable number of attempts after three repairs of the same problem, after one repair of a problem likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, after a cumulative 30 calendar days out of service, or after eight or more repair attempts on different problems. The Attorney General recommends a certified letter to the manufacturer that lists the problems, the repair dates and the vehicle identification number. A lawsuit must be filed within five years of the original delivery. The refund is the full purchase price and incidental charges, and section 1345.72 sets no deduction for use. We read the sections in an archived copy of May 6, 2026, and the Attorney General’s page in an archived copy of July 13, 2026.
When is the last day to act?
File a lawsuit, Ohio
September 5, 2030
| Days from today | 1,400 left |
| Rule: Lawsuit within 5 years of the original delivery (§ 1345.75). | |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Eight attempts on anything
Like Kansas, Ohio counts a car that keeps going back for different faults. Eight repair attempts of any kind within the first year or 18,000 miles meet the test even if no single defect was repaired three times. Every repair order counts toward it.
No deduction in the section
Many states take something off the refund for the miles driven. Section 1345.72 does not, so the buyback calculator shows no deduction for Ohio. Compare that with any offer you receive.
If the manufacturer has a qualified dispute mechanism approved by the state, and you were told about it, it comes first. A later owner during the warranty and a lessee of at least 30 days are consumers under the law. Recreational vehicles and mobile homes are not covered. The Attorney General’s page, linked below, lists what to put in the letter.
The Ohio lemon law at a glance
| Law | Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1345.71 to 1345.78 |
| Protection period | 1 year or 18,000 miles, whichever comes 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 |
| Also | Or 8 or more attempts on different problems. |
| Written notice | The Attorney General recommends a certified letter to the manufacturer listing problems, repair dates and the VIN. |
| Dispute step | Manufacturer program first. A qualified manufacturer mechanism approved by the state must be used first if you were told of it (§ 1345.77). |
| Deadline | Lawsuit within 5 years of the original delivery (§ 1345.75). |
| Use offset in a buyback | None in § 1345.72: the refund is the full purchase price and incidental charges, with no deduction for use. |
| Vehicles covered | New vehicles bought or leased (leases of at least 30 days), and a later owner during the warranty. Not recreational vehicles or mobile homes. |
| Used cars | Only within the first year or 18,000 miles (Attorney General). |
| State page | Ohio Attorney General |
| Level of reading | read in the statute |
| What we read | Sections 1345.71 to 1345.78 in an archived copy of May 6, 2026, and the Attorney General’s page in an archived copy of July 13, 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
The Attorney General recommends a certified letter to the manufacturer listing problems, repair dates and the VIN.
Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1345.71 to 1345.782. Done · milestone
Final repair attempt
Oct 16, 2026
No fixed number of days for this step in the Ohio 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 qualified manufacturer mechanism approved by the state must be used first if you were told of it (§ 1345.77).
16 CFR 703.5(d)4. Upcoming · milestone
Accept, refuse or go further
Oct 16, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026
Lawsuit within 5 years of the original delivery (§ 1345.75).