RVs and Motor Homes Under the West Virginia Lemon Law
West Virginia covers the self-propelled motor-home chassis under § 46A-6A-2 — but not the coach/house portion. How the chassis warranty, WVCCPA, and Magnuson-Moss apply.
West Virginia is more generous than many states on motor homes: § 46A-6A-2 expressly covers the self-propelled motor-home chassis (registered Class A or Class B). But the coach/house portion — appliances, slide-outs, plumbing, build quality — falls outside the lemon law.
What’s covered: the chassis
The self-propelled chassis and drivetrain of a Class A or Class B motor home are within the lemon law. Chassis defects that can qualify:
- Engine defects — stalling, overheating, power loss.
- Transmission defects.
- Brakes — a serious safety defect (one-attempt rule).
- Steering / suspension — death wobble, EPS faults.
- Chassis electrical.
This chassis coverage is more favorable than states like New Mexico, which exclude motor homes from the passenger-vehicle definition entirely.
What’s not covered: the coach
The house/coach portion is generally not a lemon-law matter:
- Slide-out failures.
- Water intrusion / leaks.
- Generator and appliance failures.
- Interior build quality.
What fills the gap for the coach
- Magnuson-Moss — federal warranty claims on coach-component and chassis warranties; § 2310(d)(2) fees; 4-year runway.
- WVCCPA — for dealer misrepresentation, with the $200 floor.
- Implied warranty of merchantability (§ 46-2-314).
Towables
Travel trailers and fifth-wheels have no motor and aren’t covered as “motor vehicles” — they rely on Magnuson-Moss, the WVCCPA, and the manufacturer’s warranty.
Bottom line
West Virginia covers the self-propelled motor-home chassis under the lemon law (more generous than many states), while the coach relies on Magnuson-Moss and the WVCCPA. Chassis safety defects can even invoke the one-attempt rule. Get a free case review to map the right statute to the defect.
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