Colorado Lemon Law: Your Rights
Last reviewed: June 28, 2026
Colorado overhauled its lemon law in August 2024, making it far stronger. It now covers new vehicles and vehicles used by small businesses for mixed business and personal use. If a substantial defect under warranty cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, you may be entitled to a replacement or a refund, less a use deduction. You have 30 months from delivery to file.
Colorado lemon law at a glance
| Time / mileage window | 2 years after purchase or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first |
|---|---|
| Repair attempts (presumption) | 3 or more for the same defect, or 2 for a defect that significantly affects safety |
| Days out of service | 24 or more business days |
| Covers new vehicles | Yes |
| Used-car lemon law | No (new vehicles only) |
What these rules mean for you
If your vehicle has a substantial defect that the manufacturer cannot fix after the repair attempts above, or it has been out of service for the listed time, you may have a lemon law claim. The remedy is usually a refund (a buyback) or a replacement vehicle. The details turn on your documentation, so keep every repair order from the first visit on. See what to document for a defect or lemon law claim.
A recall is not required for a claim, and recall repair attempts can count toward your total. For the full picture, read the pillar guide, recall vs. lemon law, and learn how many repair attempts before lemon law applies and how a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement compares.
Official Colorado sources
Verify the current rules with these authoritative sources: