Hawaii Lemon Law Cases by Manufacturer

The Hawaii Lemon Law applies the same standard to every manufacturer — with the one-attempt serious-safety-defect rule applying to any brand. Hawaii’s market is Oahu-dominant (Honolulu), with Maui, Hawai’i Island (Hilo/Kona), and Kauai each served by limited per-island dealer networks. Salt air affects every brand.

Topics in this section

• Tesla
• Toyota
• Honda
• Ford
• General Motors
• BMW
• Mercedes-Benz
• Audi / Volkswagen
• Hyundai
• Kia
• Nissan
• Stellantis (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram)
• Subaru

Hawaii-specific factors

• State-run SCAP arbitration (DCCA) — fast (45 days), low-cost; manufacturer pays the $200 fee. See state arbitration board.
• 3-attempt presumption + 1-attempt serious-safety-defect rule — applies to every brand.
• HRS § 480-13 UDAP — automatic treble (or $1,000 floor) + mandatory fees + $5,000 elder enhancement in court.
• Manufacturer-elected refund or replacement (§ 481I-3(b)).
• Salt air / marine corrosion — affects electrical, brake, and body systems across all brands, year-round.
• Mainland parts delays — run up the 30-business-day out-of-service count.
• Tropical heat / UV — stress EV batteries, paint, rubber, infotainment.
• Motorcycles covered; mopeds/scooters and >10,000 lbs excluded.
• Federal venue: D. Haw. (Honolulu).

Related

Topic

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.

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The 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.

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Qualifying 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.

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Remedies 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.

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The 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.

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Vehicle 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.

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