The Colorado Lemon Law (C.R.S. § 42-10-101)

The Colorado Lemon Law is codified at C.R.S. § 42-10-101 et seq., substantially strengthened by SB24-192 (effective August 7, 2024). Colorado’s framework pairs a 2-year / 24,000-mile Rights Period with 3-attempt (2 for safety-related) / 24-business-day OOS thresholds, a 10-business-day cure period after certified-mail notice, and § 42-10-106 attorney fees. Combined with the Colorado CCPA’s mandatory § 6-1-113(2)(b) attorney fees, $500 statutory penalty, and bad-faith treble damages, Colorado provides solid consumer-favorable remedies.

The core promise

C.R.S. § 42-10-104 requires a manufacturer to refund or replace a new motor vehicle when:

• The manufacturer (or its authorized agent) cannot repair a defect that substantially impairs the use or market value of the vehicle within a reasonable number of attempts; AND
• The defect was reported during the warranty period; AND
• The dispute arises within 2 years of original delivery OR 24,000 miles, whichever first.

Who’s covered

The Act covers:

• New motor vehicles purchased or leased in Colorado.
• Vehicles primarily for personal, family, or household use.
• Demonstrators sold under new-vehicle warranties.
• Subsequent transferees during the manufacturer’s warranty.

Vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR, motorcycles, motor homes, and off-road vehicles are excluded.

The 2-year / 24,000-mile window

Colorado’s eligibility window under C.R.S. § 42-10-103 is 2 years from original delivery OR 24,000 miles, whichever first (SB24-192 replaced the old 1-year window effective August 7, 2024). This puts Colorado alongside the mainstream peer states:

• Colorado: 2 years / 24,000 miles
• Most peer states (NJ, NC, Georgia, Texas, Washington, Arizona): 2 years / 24,000 miles
• Michigan: 1 year (no mileage cap)
• Massachusetts: 1 year / 15,000 miles (tightest combined)
• Ohio: 12 months / 18,000 miles
• Illinois, Pennsylvania: 12 months / 12,000 miles

Beyond the 2-year / 24,000-mile window, CCPA (3-year SOL) and Magnuson-Moss (4-year limit) remain available.

What “substantially impairs” means

C.R.S. § 42-10-102 defines a “nonconformity” as a defect that “substantially impairs the use or market value” of the vehicle. Two-prong test (use OR market value).

See our qualifying defects guide.

What “reasonable number of attempts” means

Colorado’s framework under C.R.S. § 42-10-103 (as amended by SB24-192):

• Three or more attempts for the same general nonconformity, or two or more attempts for a safety-related nonconformity, OR
• 24 or more cumulative business days out of service.

See our repair-attempt presumption article.

The certified-mail notice and 10-business-day cure

Before invoking Lemon Law remedies, the consumer must serve written notice by certified mail to the manufacturer under C.R.S. § 42-10-104. SB24-192 gives the manufacturer 10 business days after that notice to cure the nonconformity.

The manufacturer’s informal dispute settlement procedure

Under C.R.S. § 42-10-105, if the manufacturer has established a qualifying procedure meeting 16 C.F.R. Part 703 (typically BBB Auto Line), the consumer must use it before filing suit.

What you can recover

• Refund — purchase price plus sales tax plus collateral charges, minus reasonable use deduction.
• Replacement — comparable new vehicle.
• § 42-10-106 attorney fees.
• Reimbursement of incidental damages.

§ 42-10-106 attorney-fee shifting

C.R.S. § 42-10-106 provides for attorney fees in successful Lemon Law actions. Combined with CCPA § 6-1-113(2)(b) mandatory fees, Colorado provides dual fee-recovery basis for prevailing consumers.

Court action

Colorado Lemon Law cases are pursued in Colorado District Court. Magnuson-Moss provides concurrent federal-court jurisdiction (D. Colo. — Denver, Grand Junction) for cases over $50K.

How Colorado compares to other states

State	Rights Period	Same-defect attempts	OOS threshold	Lemon Law fees	State CPA fees
Colorado	24 mo/24K	3 (2 safety)	24 biz days	§ 42-10-106	Mandatory § 6-1-113(2)(b)
NJ	24 mo/24K	3	20 cal	Mandatory + expert	Mandatory
NC	24 mo/24K	4	20 biz	Mandatory	Mandatory
Georgia	24 mo/24K	3	30 cal	Discretionary	Mandatory
Ohio	12 mo/18K	3	30 cal	Mandatory	Mandatory
California	4-yr SOL	2	30 cal	Mandatory	n/a
Texas	24 mo/24K	4	30 cal	No	Mandatory
Florida	24 mo	3	30 cal	No	Yes
New York	2 yr/18K	4	30 cal	Mandatory	Discretionary
Illinois	12 mo/12K	4	30 cal	No	Mandatory
Pennsylvania	12 mo/12K	3	varies	Mandatory	Mandatory
Michigan	1 yr (no cap)	4	30 cal	Discretionary	Discretionary
Virginia	18 mo (no cap)	3	30 cal	Mandatory + expert	Mandatory
Washington	24 mo/24K	4	30 cal	Discretionary	Mandatory
Massachusetts	1 yr / 15K	3	15 biz	None standalone	Mandatory
Arizona	2 yr/24K	4	30 cal	Discretionary	NONE

Bottom line

Colorado’s Lemon Law, modernized by SB24-192, combines a 2-year / 24,000-mile window, 3-attempt (2 for safety) / 24-business-day thresholds, a 10-business-day cure period, and § 42-10-106 fees. The CCPA’s mandatory § 6-1-113(2)(b) fees, $500 statutory penalty, and bad-faith treble damages provide strong consumer remedies — making Colorado solidly consumer-favorable.

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