You have limited time to act if your new vehicle keeps breaking down. Deadlines differ by state and your repair history can make or break your claim.
Filing windows you can’t miss
Filing within 3 years of delivery is recommended but Ohio law allows up to 5 years. Texas however requires you to file much sooner: within 6 months of the earliest of warranty expiration, 24 months after delivery or 24,000 miles.
- Defect window: The defect must appear within the first year or before the warranty ends.
- Reasonable repair attempts: The manufacturer must get a fair chance to fix the problem.
- Record keeping: Save all repair orders and service notes.
- Early action recommended: Courts could view older cases less favorably.
These rules determine whether you qualify before filing.
Ohio’s five-year limit and repair standards
Ohio’s Lemon Law gives you up to five years from the delivery date to file a claim but the defect must arise within 12 months or 18,000 miles. You must show that the manufacturer had a reasonable opportunity to repair the issue proven by:
- Three repair attempts for one problem
- Eight or more attempts for different issues
- One failed repair of a life-threatening defect
- Thirty or more total days out of service
Although five years seems generous, acting early strengthens your case and makes records easier to verify.
Texas’s shorter administrative deadline
According to the Texas Lemon Law, you must file within 6 months of the earliest of warranty expiration, 24 months after delivery or 24,000 miles. To qualify, the vehicle must meet one of three tests:
- Four-times test: Four repair attempts for the same issue.
- Serious safety-hazard test: Two failed repairs of a life-threatening defect.
- 30-day test: Thirty total days out of service.
If approved, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may order a refund, replacement or repair.
What you can do next
Missed deadlines or weak records can bar your claim. Repair documents help prove when the defect occurred and that you followed the law’s repair requirements.
Because timelines and proof standards vary, consulting a lemon law attorney can help you confirm your deadline, strengthen your documentation and pursue fair relief.