Hawaii Lemon Law FAQ
Common questions about Hawaii lemon-law claims — qualifying, the SCAP arbitration, hiring a lawyer, cost, used vehicles, denied claims, repair shops, and deadlines.
Common questions about Hawaii’s Lemon Law (HRS § 481I), the State Certified Arbitration Program, the HRS § 480-13 UDAP, and the path to a refund or replacement.
Topics in this section
- When is a car a lemon in Hawaii?
- Do I need a lawyer?
- How much does it cost?
- Are used vehicles covered?
- What if the manufacturer denied my claim?
- Which repair shop should I use?
- How long do I have to file?
The Hawaii essentials
- Statute: Motor Vehicle Express Warranty Enforcement Act, HRS § 481I-1 to § 481I-4.
- Thresholds: 3 same-defect repairs, 1 for a serious safety defect, or 30 business days out of service.
- Prerequisite: a written report of the nonconformity during the Rights Period + opportunity to repair.
- Rights Period: 2 years / 24,000 miles, whichever earlier.
- Arbitration: the state-run SCAP (DCCA) — 45-day decision, manufacturer pays $200, consumer pays $50 (refunded if they win).
- Remedy: refund (full price minus a 1%-per-1,000-mile offset) or replacement — manufacturer elects (§ 481I-3(b)).
- Fees/damages: discretionary in SCAP; in court the UDAP § 480-13 gives automatic treble (or a $1,000 floor) + mandatory fees + a $5,000 elder enhancement.
- Motorcycles covered; mopeds, scooters, and >10,000 lbs excluded.
Related
Hawaii Lemon Law Cases by Manufacturer
How the Hawaii Lemon Law and the HRS § 480 UDAP apply to specific manufacturers across the Oahu, Maui, Hawai'i Island, and Kauai markets.
Read → TopicThe Process: Filing a Hawaii Lemon Law Claim
Step by step through a Hawaii lemon-law claim — documented repair attempts, the written report, the State Certified Arbitration Program (SCAP), and court action.
Read → TopicQualifying Defects Under the Hawaii Lemon Law
Which defects qualify under Hawaii's lemon law — and which trigger the one-attempt serious-safety-defect rule. Transmission, engine, brakes, electrical, steering, infotainment, EV — with salt-air and parts-delay factors.
Read → TopicRemedies Under the Hawaii Lemon Law
What you can recover in a Hawaii lemon-law claim — manufacturer-elected refund or replacement, the 1%-per-1,000-mile offset, UDAP automatic treble damages, and mandatory attorney fees.
Read → TopicThe Law: Hawaii Lemon Law and the UDAP (HRS § 480)
The statutes behind a Hawaii lemon-law claim — the Motor Vehicle Express Warranty Enforcement Act (HRS § 481I), the State Certified Arbitration Program, the HRS § 480 UDAP, and Magnuson-Moss.
Read → TopicVehicle Types Under the Hawaii Lemon Law
How Hawaii's lemon law applies across vehicle types — used, leased, EV, motorcycles (covered), RVs, and commercial — under the 10,000-lb cap and personal-use rules.
Read →Think you've got a lemon?
Compare your situation to your state's requirements — and connect with a vetted lemon-law attorney for a free case review.