RVs and Motor Homes Under the Rhode Island Lemon Law
How Rhode Island's lemon law treats motor homes and RVs — the motorized-camper exclusion, the 10,000-lb threshold, and UTPA/Magnuson-Moss alternatives.
Rhode Island’s lemon law expressly excludes motorized campers (§ 31-5.2-1(8)), and its covered classes (automobile, truck, motorcycle, van) cap at 10,000 lbs. So most motor homes and RVs fall outside the lemon law and rely on Magnuson-Moss and the DTPA.
What’s generally not covered
- Motorized campers / motor homes — expressly excluded.
- Towable trailers — no motor, not within the covered classes.
- Vehicles 10,000 lbs GVWR or more.
A possible narrow path: a covered van chassis
A smaller van under 10,000 lbs that has been camper-converted raises a classification question — but a vehicle that is a “motorized camper” is excluded. In practice, RV owners should treat the lemon law as unlikely to apply and look to the alternatives.
What fills the gap
- Magnuson-Moss — federal warranty claims on chassis and coach-component warranties; § 2310(d)(2) fees; 4-year runway. The primary tool for RV warranty disputes.
- RI DTPA — for dealer misrepresentation (actual or $500, discretionary treble), subject to the regulated-activities exemption.
- Implied warranty of merchantability (§ 6A-2-314).
Bottom line
Rhode Island’s lemon law excludes motorized campers, so RV owners rely on Magnuson-Moss and the DTPA. Get a free case review to map the right statute to the defect.
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Read →Think you've got a lemon?
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