RVs and Motor Homes Under the Montana Lemon Law
How Montana's lemon law treats motor homes and RVs — the self-propelled chassis vs. the coach, the 15,000-lb truck cap, the personal-use rule, and UTPA/Magnuson-Moss alternatives.
Montana’s treatment of motor homes depends on type, weight, and use. The Montana Lemon Law covers a new motor vehicle designed primarily to carry passengers on public highways for personal/family/household use, while excluding trucks of 15,000 lbs GVW or more. The self-propelled chassis of a personal-use motor home under that weight may be covered; the coach and trailers fall outside.
What may be covered: the chassis
The self-propelled chassis and drivetrain of a personal-use motor home under 15,000 lbs may fall within the covered-vehicle definition. Chassis defects that may qualify:
- Engine defects — stalling, overheating (worse on mountain grades).
- Transmission defects.
- Brake or steering failures (safety-critical; substantial impairment is easy to show).
- Chassis electrical — mag-chloride-corrosion relevant.
What’s not covered
- The coach/house portion — slide-outs, water intrusion, appliances, build quality.
- Towable trailers — no motor.
- Larger motor homes over 15,000 lbs GVW.
What fills the gap
- Magnuson-Moss — federal warranty claims on chassis and coach-component warranties; § 2310(d)(2) fees; 4-year runway.
- Montana CPA — for dealer misrepresentation, with a discretionary treble and fees.
- Implied warranty of merchantability (§ 30-2-314).
Bottom line
A personal-use motor-home chassis under 15,000 lbs may be covered by Montana’s lemon law; the coach, trailers, and larger units rely on Magnuson-Moss and the CPA. Get a free case review to map the right statute to the defect.
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Compare your situation to your state's requirements — and connect with a vetted lemon-law attorney for a free case review.