BBB Auto Line and Ford DSB in Utah

Utah has NO state-administered Lemon Law arbitration board. Unlike Connecticut’s DCP, New Jersey’s DCA, Florida’s NMVA Board, Washington’s AG program, or Minnesota AG arbitration, Utah consumers rely on the manufacturer’s certified Informal Dispute Settlement procedure (IDS) — typically BBB Auto Line or Ford DSB.

Procedural status of IDS in Utah

Unlike Mississippi § 63-17-163, Utah does NOT impose a strict IDS prerequisite for the state Lemon Law refund/replacement remedy. The Utah Lemon Law itself doesn’t condition § 13-20-5 relief on IDS exhaustion.

But the federal Magnuson-Moss § 2310(e) IDS prerequisite still applies for federal Magnuson-Moss claims when the manufacturer maintains a certified procedure under 16 C.F.R. Part 703. Most Utah cases plead Magnuson-Moss in federal court for the mandatory § 2310(d)(2) fees, so IDS is typically run as a procedural step.

BBB Auto Line

BBB Auto Line is the certified IDS for most major manufacturers in Utah:

• Toyota and Lexus
• Honda and Acura
• General Motors — Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick
• Hyundai and Kia
• Mercedes-Benz
• Subaru
• Mazda
• BMW
• Volvo

How BBB Auto Line works

1. Consumer files online at bbbautoline.org or by mail.
2. BBB notifies manufacturer, who has 30 days to respond.
3. Documents exchange.
4. Decision within 40-60 days. Documentary review or hearing.
5. Decision is non-binding on consumer but binding on manufacturer if consumer accepts.

Ford Dispute Settlement Board (DSB)

Ford DSB is the manufacturer-operated IDS for Ford and Lincoln. Certified for § 2310(e) purposes.

How Ford DSB works

1. Consumer requests review via Ford customer-relations.
2. DSB acknowledges within 7-14 days.
3. Document exchange.
4. DSB review — documentary or phone interview.
5. Decision within 40-50 days.

Manufacturers WITHOUT certified IDS

• Tesla — no certified IDS. Magnuson-Moss § 2310(e) prerequisite not triggered.
• Stellantis — variable participation history.
• Nissan / Infiniti — variable.
• Volkswagen / Audi / Porsche — variable.

When the manufacturer has no certified IDS, consumers proceed directly to federal court for Magnuson-Moss without the § 2310(e) prerequisite step.

Should you run IDS in Utah?

Practical considerations:

• Yes, if Magnuson-Moss is your federal theory — § 2310(e) prerequisite must be satisfied. Without IDS attempt, federal court may dismiss for failure to exhaust.
• Yes pro forma even if expected to lose — preserves federal venue.
• Skip only if the manufacturer has no certified IDS (Tesla, Stellantis in some periods).

UCSPA § 13-11-19 doesn’t have an IDS prerequisite — UCSPA-only state-court cases don’t require IDS.

Strategic flexibility

Utah’s structural setup gives plaintiffs more flexibility than IDS-strict states:

• Federal Magnuson-Moss in D. Utah: IDS prerequisite under § 2310(e); run BBB Auto Line / Ford DSB pro forma.
• State court UCSPA-anchored: no IDS prerequisite; proceed directly.
• Hybrid: file state-court Lemon Law + UCSPA + UCC for damages, file separate federal Magnuson-Moss for fee anchor.

Bottom line

Utah’s lack of state arbitration board + flexible IDS framework (Lemon Law itself doesn’t require IDS) gives consumers more procedural options than IDS-strict peer states like MS. Run BBB Auto Line / Ford DSB if pleading Magnuson-Moss; skip if pleading state-only UCSPA or if manufacturer has no certified procedure.

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