Motorcycles Under the New Mexico Lemon Law
New Mexico expressly covers motorcycles under § 57-16A-2 — unlike Arizona and many other states — making the Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act available for motorcycle defects.
New Mexico is distinctive in expressly covering motorcycles under the Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act. Section 57-16A-2 defines a covered passenger motor vehicle to include “an automobile, pickup truck, motorcycle or van.” This is a meaningful contrast with Arizona, which excludes motorcycles entirely.
Motorcycles are covered passenger vehicles
To qualify, a motorcycle must be:
- Under 10,000 lbs GVWR (all motorcycles are).
- Used for personal, family, or household purposes.
- Within the Rights Period and the original express warranty.
- Subject to the 4-attempt or 30-business-day presumption.
Because motorcycles are covered, a New Mexico rider gets the full MVQAA remedy — refund or replacement plus mandatory § 57-16A-9 fees — not just the UPA/Magnuson-Moss fallback that Arizona riders are limited to.
Common qualifying motorcycle defects
- Engine / fuel-injection defects — stalling, hard starting.
- Electrical / charging-system failures.
- Transmission defects — hard shifting, jumping out of gear.
- Brake-system failures — safety-critical.
- Suspension failures — fork seals, shock leaks.
- Frame defects — recall-tied.
- Cooling-system failures — relevant in New Mexico heat.
Manufacturer patterns
- Harley-Davidson — twin-cooled engine and electrical issues.
- Honda Gold Wing — DCT and fuel-pump issues.
- BMW R-series — fuel-strip recall, final-drive failures.
- Ducati Multistrada — DVT engine, electrical glitches.
- Indian — wiring-harness recalls.
New Mexico riding factors
- Long riding season and high-desert heat stress cooling, electrical, and rubber components.
- Mountain and high-altitude routes (the Enchanted Circle, the high country) stress fuel/air mixture and cooling.
- Salt-free roads — corrosion is less a factor than in northern states.
Full lemon-law remedy available
The key takeaway: because § 57-16A-2 covers motorcycles, riders can pursue the refund/replacement remedy and mandatory fees under the MVQAA — then stack UPA and Magnuson-Moss claims. Document the recurring defect within the tight one-year window.
Bottom line
Unlike Arizona, New Mexico expressly covers motorcycles under § 57-16A-2, giving riders the full lemon-law remedy plus mandatory fees. Document repair attempts within the Rights Period and file within the 18-month SOL. Get a free case review.
Related
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Read → ArticleRVs and Motor Homes Under the New Mexico Lemon Law
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Read → ArticleUsed Vehicles Under the New Mexico Lemon Law
New Mexico's distinctive dedicated used-vehicle provision (§ 57-16A-3.1) — a statutory implied warranty of merchantability for 15 days / 500 miles, with a capped $25-per-repair consumer cost.
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.