Connecticut Lemon Law Statute (§ 42-179)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-179 — the Connecticut Lemon Law — was enacted in 1982 as the first Lemon Law in the United States. The statute has been amended multiple times but the core framework has remained intact for over 40 years, serving as the model for nearly every other state.

Historical significance

• Enacted: October 1, 1982 — signed by Governor William O’Neill.
• Lead drafter: Connecticut House and Senate consumer-protection committees.
• Influence: The CT statute served as the legislative template for California (1982), New York (1983), Massachusetts (1983), and dozens of subsequent state Lemon Laws.
• DCP arbitration program: Added 1984, the longest-running state-run Lemon Law arbitration program in the U.S.

Core eligibility

Under § 42-179(a), the statute covers:

• New motor vehicles purchased or leased in Connecticut.
• Purpose: personal, family, or household use (not commercial-only).
• GVWR: under 10,000 lbs.
• Vehicle types: passenger cars, light trucks, motorcycles, demonstrators.
• Excluded: motor homes (except chassis), commercial-only vehicles, vehicles above 10,000 lbs.

The 2-year / 24,000-mile Rights Period

§ 42-179(b) establishes the eligibility window:

• 2 years from original delivery, OR
• 24,000 miles, OR
• End of express written warranty, whichever first.

This is the standard 2-year / 24K combined window — but Connecticut layers a 4-year action filing window on top under § 42-181(d), giving consumers exceptional runway.

Repair-attempt thresholds

Under § 42-179(d), the “reasonable number of attempts” presumption applies when:

• Four or more repair attempts for the same nonconformity within the Rights Period, OR
• 30 or more cumulative days out of service.

See our repair-attempt presumption article for details.

§ 42-180 attorney fees — discretionary

§ 42-180 provides:

“In any action by a consumer against the manufacturer… based upon the alleged breach of an express or implied warranty… the court, in its discretion, may award to the plaintiff his costs and reasonable attorney’s fees… or, if the court determines that the action was brought without any substantial justification, may award costs and reasonable attorney’s fees to the defendant.”

The Lemon Law’s own fee statute is discretionary (“may award”), and it can even shift fees to the manufacturer if the court finds the action was brought without substantial justification. Because of that, the stronger fee hook in a Connecticut case is usually CUTPA § 42-110g(d), which Connecticut courts treat as functionally mandatory for prevailing plaintiffs. Pleading CUTPA alongside the Lemon Law is the standard way to secure a reliable fee award.

Remedies

§ 42-179(d) requires manufacturer to:

• Refund: full purchase price + sales tax + registration + finance charges + incidental + minus reasonable use offset, OR
• Replacement: comparable new vehicle.

Consumer chooses between refund and replacement.

See our remedies guide.

DCP arbitration

§ 42-181 establishes the DCP Lemon Law Arbitration Program. Consumer may choose between DCP arbitration and manufacturer-certified IDS. Most consumers choose DCP for its independence.

See our DCP arbitration article.

4-year action filing window

§ 42-181(d) gives consumers up to 4 years from delivery to file a Lemon Law action — substantially longer than peer states. This is one of Connecticut’s most consumer-favorable features.

Bottom line

Connecticut’s § 42-179 — the original Lemon Law — provides a solid 2-year / 24K Rights Period, 4-attempt / 30-day OOS thresholds, discretionary § 42-180 fees, and a 4-year action runway. Combined with CUTPA and the DCP arbitration program, it remains one of the strongest state-level frameworks in the country.

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Connecticut's Repair-Attempt Presumption (4 Attempts / 30 Days OOS)

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Connecticut Lemon Law Statute of Limitations

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