Hawaii Lemon Law rules at a glance
The Hawaii Motor Vehicle Express Warranty Enforcement (Lemon Law) is Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481I.
| Rule | What Hawaii law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481I | HRS § 481I-1 |
| Vehicles covered | Vehicles used mainly for personal, family or household purposes; Motorcycles (not motor scooters) and demonstrators; Individually registered vehicles also used for business, and business vehicles of buyers who acquire no more than one a year | |
| Not covered | Mopeds and motor scooters; Vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR | |
| Protection window | The lemon law rights period: the warranty term, 2 years from delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first | HRS § 481I-2 |
| Serious Safety Defect Test | A defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury was examined or repaired at least once and continues | HRS § 481I-3(d)(2) |
| Three Repairs Test | The same defect was examined or repaired at least 3 times and continues | HRS § 481I-3(d)(1) |
| 30 Business Days Test | Out of service for repair a cumulative total of 30 or more business days (business days) | HRS § 481I-3(d)(3) |
| Written notice | Report the defect in writing to the manufacturer, its agent, distributor or dealer during the rights period. The presumptions apply only after the manufacturer receives a written report and a reasonable chance to repair; this is required if you received the state notice of rights at purchase. | HRS § 481I-3(a), (d), (h) |
| Dispute program first? | The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs runs a state certified arbitration program. Decisions are due within 45 days. If you choose binding arbitration, all parties are bound; if nonbinding, either side can demand a new trial within 30 days. | |
| Deadline | Start an action within 1 year after the lemon law rights period expires | HRS § 481I-3(j) |
| Usage deduction | Hawaii deducts 1% of the purchase price for every 1,000 miles you drove up to the third repair attempt, the first repair of a safety defect, or the 30th business day out of service, whichever came first (HRS § 481I-2). |
Three repairs, one safety repair or 30 business days in Hawaii
Hawaii presumes a reasonable number of attempts, once the manufacturer has your written report and a reasonable chance to repair, when during the lemon law rights period:
Serious Safety Defect Test
A defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury was examined or repaired at least once and continues.
HRS § 481I-3(d)(2)Three Repairs Test
The same defect was examined or repaired at least 3 times and continues.
HRS § 481I-3(d)(1)30 Business Days Test
Out of service for repair a cumulative total of 30 or more business days.
HRS § 481I-3(d)(3)The defect must substantially impair the vehicle: make it unfit, unreliable or unsafe, or significantly lower its value. The dealer must notify the manufacturer after a second notice of the defect or more than 20 business days out of service.
Notice to the manufacturer in Hawaii
Report the defect in writing to the manufacturer, its agent, distributor or dealer during the rights period. The presumptions apply only after the manufacturer receives a written report and a reasonable chance to repair; this is required if you received the state notice of rights at purchase.
In Hawaii the presumptions apply only after the manufacturer receives your written report and a reasonable chance to repair.
Dispute program first. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs runs a state certified arbitration program. Decisions are due within 45 days. If you choose binding arbitration, all parties are bound; if nonbinding, either side can demand a new trial within 30 days.
You must sign and receive a fully itemized repair order every time, and you can ask for technical service bulletins about the defect.
Hawaii’s 1-year deadline after the rights period
Start an action within 1 year after the lemon law rights period expires (HRS § 481I-3(j)).
| Event | Date | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle delivered | Mar 15, 2025 | The protection window starts |
| Protection window ends | March 15, 2027 | Repairs after this date do not count toward the tests |
| Act by | March 15, 2028 | Start an action within 1 year after the lemon law rights period expires |
How to file a Hawaii lemon law claim
- Report the defect in writingTo the manufacturer, its agent, distributor or dealer during the rights period.
- Sign for an itemized repair order every visitIt must show the diagnosis, work done, date and odometer reading.
- Invoke the state certified arbitration programThe $50 fee is returned if you win; the manufacturer pays $200.
- Choose binding or nonbinding arbitrationIf you choose binding, all parties are bound; if nonbinding, either side can demand a trial within 30 days.
- Act within 1 yearAfter the lemon law rights period ends.
Refund, replacement and the Hawaii deduction for use
| Remedy | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Refund | The full purchase price (including trade-in allowance), undercoating, dealer preparation, transportation and installed options, and all collateral and incidental charges, less the offset for use. |
| Replacement | An identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle, including service contracts and installed options; the manufacturer pays general excise tax and license and registration fees. |
Hawaii deducts 1% of the purchase price for every 1,000 miles you drove up to the third repair attempt, the first repair of a safety defect, or the 30th business day out of service, whichever came first (HRS § 481I-2).
Hawaii’s 1%-per-1,000-miles offset
Hawaii deducts 1% of the purchase price for every 1,000 miles you drove, counting only up to the earliest of: the third repair attempt for the defect, the first repair of a safety defect, or the 30th business day out of service (HRS § 481I-2).
| Miles at the third repair | Offset |
|---|---|
| 5,000 | $1,800.00 |
| 10,000 | $3,600.00 |
| 15,000 | $5,400.00 |
An extra offset can be made for damage beyond normal wear that is unrelated to the defect. For a second owner, the refund cannot exceed the original buyer’s price.
Hawaii’s state certified arbitration program
| Rule | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Run by | The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, which may contract an independent arbitration organization |
| Fees | $50 for you (returned if you win), $200 for the manufacturer |
| Decision | Within 45 days of invoking the program |
| Binding? | Your choice; a nonbinding award becomes binding if no one demands a trial within 30 days |
| Trial after nonbinding arbitration | A party who does not improve its position by 25% pays the other side’s costs and attorney fees |
Second owners in Hawaii
A person to whom the vehicle is transferred during the express warranty is a consumer; a refund is capped at the original buyer’s price. The chapter covers vehicles within the lemon law rights period.
A person who gets the vehicle during the express warranty is a consumer. Hawaii covers motorcycles (not motor scooters), demonstrators, and business vehicles of owners who buy or lease no more than one a year.
To test your own dates and repair visits, see if your Hawaii vehicle qualifies with our checker.
Hawaii Lemon Law FAQs
What qualifies as a lemon in Hawaii?
A vehicle with a defect that substantially impairs its use, market value or safety, after 3 repairs, 1 repair of a safety defect, or 30 business days out of service during the warranty, 2 years or 24,000 miles, with a written report to the manufacturer.
How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in Hawaii?
Within 1 year following the expiration of the lemon law rights period (HRS § 481I-3(j)).
How much does Hawaii lemon law arbitration cost?
The consumer fee is $50, returned if you win; the manufacturer pays $200.
How is the Hawaii lemon law refund calculated?
The full price with collateral and incidental charges, minus 1% of the price per 1,000 miles driven up to the third repair, the first safety repair or the 30th business day out of service.
Does the Hawaii lemon law cover motorcycles?
Yes. Motorcycles are covered; mopeds and motor scooters are not.
Sources
Checked on October 13, 2026. We re-verify Hawaii rules when the legislature, the courts or the agency change them. Read how we check every rule in our editorial policy.