New Mexico Lemon Law: Your Rights

Last reviewed: June 29, 2026

New Mexico's lemon law, the Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act, covers new vehicles used for personal, family, or household purposes. If a substantial defect under warranty can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or refund the full purchase price, less a reasonable allowance for use. A prevailing consumer can also recover attorney fees.

New Mexico lemon law at a glance

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 New Mexico sources

Verify the current rules with these authoritative sources:

• New Mexico Department of Justice, Consumer Protection
• New Mexico Statutes Chapter 57, Article 16A (Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act)