Oregon's Lemon Law - Oregon Revised Statutes 646A.400-646A.418
646.315 Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418. As used in ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies):
(1) "Consumer" means:
- (a) The purchaser or lessee, other than for purposes of resale, of a new motor vehicle normally used for personal, family or household purposes;
- (b) Any person to whom a new motor vehicle used for personal, family or household purposes is transferred for the same purposes during the duration of an express warranty applicable to such motor vehicle; and
- (c) Any other person entitled by the terms of such warranty to enforce the obligations of the warranty.
(2) "Motor vehicle" means a passenger motor vehicle as defined in ORS 801.360 ("Motor vehicle"). [Formerly 646.315]
646A.402 Availability of remedy.
The remedy under the provisions of ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies) is available to a consumer if:(1) A new motor vehicle does not conform to applicable manufacturer's express warranties;
(2) The consumer reports each nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized dealer, for the purpose of repair or correction, during the period of one year following the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to the consumer or during the period ending on the date on which the mileage on the motor vehicle reaches 12,000 miles, whichever period ends earlier; and
(3) The manufacturer has received direct written notification from or on behalf of the consumer and has had an opportunity to correct the alleged defect. "Notification" under this subsection includes, but is not limited to, a request by the consumer for an informal dispute settlement procedure under ORS 646A.408 (Use of informal dispute settlement procedure as condition for remedy). [Formerly 646.325]
646A.404 Consumer's remedies; manufacturer's affirmative defenses.
(1) If the manufacturer or its agents or authorized dealers are unable to conform the motor vehicle to any applicable manufacturer’s express warranty by repairing or correcting any defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, market value or safety of the motor vehicle to the consumer after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer shall:
- (a) Replace the motor vehicle with a new motor vehicle; or
- (b) Accept return of the vehicle from the consumer and refund to the consumer the full purchase or lease price paid, including taxes, license and registration fees and any similar collateral charges excluding interest, less a reasonable allowance for the consumer's use of the vehicle.
(2) Refunds shall be made to the consumer and lienholder, if any, as their interests may appear. A reasonable allowance for use is that amount directly attributable to use by the consumer prior to the first report of the nonconformity to the manufacturer, agent or dealer and during any subsequent period when the vehicle is not out of service by reason of repair.
(3) It shall be an affirmative defense to any claim under ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies):
- (a) That an alleged nonconformity does not substantially impair such use, market value or safety; or
- (b) That a nonconformity is the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modifications or alterations of the motor vehicle by the consumer. [Formerly 646.335]
646A.406 Presumption of reasonable attempt to conform; extension of time for repairs; notice to manufacturer.
(1) It shall be presumed that a reasonable number of attempts have been undertaken to conform a motor vehicle to the applicable manufacturer's express warranties if, during the period of one year following the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer or during the period ending on the date on which the mileage on the motor vehicle reaches 12,000 miles, whichever period ends earlier:
- (a) The same nonconformity has been subject to repair or correction four or more times by the manufacturer or its agent or authorized dealer, but such nonconformity continues to exist; or
- (b) The vehicle is out of service by reason of repair or correction for a cumulative total of 30 or more business days.
(2) A repair or correction for purposes of subsection (1) of this section includes a repair that must take place after the expiration of the earlier of either period.
(3) The period ending on the date on which the mileage on the motor vehicle reaches 12,000 miles, the one-year period and the 30-day period shall be extended by any period of time during which repair services are not available to the consumer because of a war, invasion, strike, fire, flood or other natural disaster.
(4) In no event shall the presumption described in subsection (1) of this section apply against a manufacturer unless the manufacturer has received prior direct written notification from or on behalf of the consumer and has had an opportunity to cure the defect alleged. [Formerly 646.345]
646A.408 Use of informal dispute settlement procedure as condition for remedy; binding effect on manufacturer.
If the manufacturer has established or participates in an informal dispute settlement procedure that substantially complies with the provisions of 16 C.F.R. part 703, as from time to time amended, and causes the consumer to be notified of the procedure, ORS 646A.404 (Consumer's remedies) concerning refunds or replacement shall not apply to any consumer who has not first resorted to the procedure. A decision resulting from arbitration pursuant to the informal dispute settlement procedure shall be binding on the manufacturer. [Formerly 646.355]
646A.410 Informal dispute settlement procedure; recordkeeping; review by Department of Justice.
A manufacturer which has established or participates in an informal dispute settlement procedure shall keep records of all cases submitted to the procedure under ORS 646A.408 (Use of informal dispute settlement procedure as condition for remedy) and shall make the records available to the Department of Justice if the department requests them. The department may review all case records kept under this section to determine whether or not the arbitrators are complying with the provisions of ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies) in reaching their decisions. [Formerly 646.357]
646A.412 Action in court; damages if manufacturer does not act in good faith; attorney fees.
(1) If a consumer brings an action in court under ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies) against a manufacturer and the consumer is granted one of the remedies specified in ORS 646A.404 (Consumer's remedies) (1) by the court, the consumer shall also be awarded up to three times the amount of any damages, not to exceed $50,000 over and above the amount due the consumer under ORS 646A.404 (Consumer's remedies) (1), if the court finds that the manufacturer did not act in good faith.
(2) The court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in an appeal or action under this section. [Formerly 646.359]
646A.414 Limitations on actions against dealers.
(1) Nothing in ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies) creates a cause of action by a consumer against a vehicle dealer.
(2) A manufacturer may not join a dealer as a party in any proceeding brought under ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies), nor may the manufacturer try to collect from a dealer any damages assessed against the manufacturer in a proceeding brought under ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies). [Formerly 646.361]
646A.416 Limitation on commencement of action.
Any action brought under ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies) shall be commenced within one year following whichever period ends earlier:
(1) TThe period ending on the date on which the mileage on the motor vehicle reaches 12,000 miles; or
(2) The period of one year following the date of the original delivery of the motor vehicle to the consumer. [Formerly 646.365]
646A.418 Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies; election of remedies.
Nothing in ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies) is intended in any way to limit the rights or remedies that are otherwise available to a consumer under any other law. However, if the consumer elects to pursue any other remedy in state or federal court, the remedy available under ORS 646A.400 (Definitions for ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418) to 646A.418 (Remedies supplementary to existing statutory or common law remedies) shall not be available insofar as it would result in recovery in excess of the recovery authorized by ORS 646A.404 (Consumer's remedies) without proof of fault resulting in damages in excess of such recovery. [Formerly 646.375]