Section 42-179 - New motor vehicle warranties. Leased vehicles. Resales. Transfers. Manufacturer buybacks(a) As used in this chapter:(1) "Consumer" means the purchaser, other than for purposes of resale, of a motor vehicle, a lessee of a motor vehicle, any person to whom such motor vehicle is transferred during the duration of an express warranty applicable to such motor vehicle, and any person entitled by the terms of such warranty to enforce the obligations of the warranty; and(2) "Motor vehicle" means a passenger motor vehicle, a passenger and commercial motor vehicle or a motorcycle, as defined in section 14-1, which is sold or leased in this state.(b) If a new motor vehicle does not conform to all applicable express warranties, and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized dealer during the period of two years following the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer or during the period of the first twenty-four thousand miles of operation, whichever period ends first, the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized dealer shall make such repairs as are necessary to conform the vehicle to such express warranties, notwithstanding the fact that such repairs are made after the expiration of the applicable period.(c) No consumer shall be required to notify the manufacturer of a claim under this section and sections 42-181 to 42-184, inclusive, unless the manufacturer has clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the consumer, in the warranty or owner's manual, that written notification of the nonconformity is required before the consumer may be eligible for a refund or replacement of the vehicle. The manufacturer shall include with the warranty or owner's manual the name and address to which the consumer shall send such written notification.(d)(1) If the manufacturer or its agents or authorized dealers are unable to conform the motor vehicle to any applicable express warranty by repairing or correcting any defect or condition which substantially impairs the use, safety or value of the motor vehicle to the consumer after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer shall replace the motor vehicle with a new motor vehicle acceptable to the consumer, or accept return of the vehicle from the consumer and refund to the consumer, lessor and lienholder, if any, as their interests may appear, the following: (A) The full contract price, including, but not limited to, charges for undercoating, dealer preparation and transportation and installed options; (B) all collateral charges, including but not limited to, sales tax, license and registration fees, and similar government charges; (C) all finance charges incurred by the consumer after he first reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, agent or dealer and during any subsequent period when the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair; and (D) all incidental damages, if applicable, less a reasonable allowance for the consumer's use of the vehicle. (2) For the purposes of this subsection, incidental damages include, but are not limited to, compensation for any commercially reasonable charges or expenses with respect to: (A) Inspection, receipt, transportation, care or custody of the motor vehicle; (B) covering, returning or disposing of the motor vehicle; (C) reasonable efforts to minimize or avoid the consequences of financial default related to the motor vehicle; and (D) effectuating other remedies after a defect or condition that substantially impaired the motor vehicle has been reported to a dealership or manufacturer.(3) No authorized dealer shall be held liable by the manufacturer for any refunds or vehicle replacements in the absence of evidence indicating that dealership repairs have been carried out in a manner inconsistent with the manufacturers' instructions. Refunds or replacements shall be made to the consumer, lessor and lienholder if any, as their interests may appear. A reasonable allowance for use shall be that amount obtained by multiplying the total contract price of the vehicle by a fraction having as its denominator one hundred twenty thousand and having as its numerator the number of miles that the vehicle traveled prior to the manufacturer's acceptance of its return.(4) It shall be an affirmative defense to any claim under this section that: (A) An alleged nonconformity does not substantially impair such use, safety or value; or (B) a nonconformity is the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modifications or alterations of a motor vehicle by a consumer.(e)(1) It shall be presumed that a reasonable number of attempts have been undertaken to conform a motor vehicle to the applicable express warranties, if: (A) The same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer or its agents or authorized dealers during the period of two years following the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer or during the period of the first twenty-four thousand miles of operation, whichever period ends first, but such nonconformity continues to exist; or (B) the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair for a cumulative total of thirty or more calendar days during the applicable period, determined pursuant to Such subparagraph (A) of this subdivision.(2) The two-year period and thirty-day period set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be extended by any period of time during which repair services are not available to the consumer because of a war, invasion, strike or fire, flood or other natural disaster.(3) No claim shall be made under this section unless at least one attempt to repair a nonconformity has been made by the manufacturer or its agent or an authorized dealer or unless such manufacturer, its agent or an authorized dealer has refused to attempt to repair such nonconformity.(f) If a motor vehicle has a nonconformity which results in a condition which is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven, it shall be presumed that a reasonable number of attempts have been undertaken to conform such vehicle to the applicable express warranties if the nonconformity has been subject to repair at least twice by the manufacturer or its agents or authorized dealers within the express warranty term or during the period of one year following the date of the original delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer, whichever period ends first, but such nonconformity continues to exist. The term of an express warranty and such one-year period shall be extended by any period of time during which repair services are not available to the consumer because of war, invasion, strike or fire, flood or other natural disaster.(g)(1) No motor vehicle which is returned to any person pursuant to any provision of this chapter or in settlement of any dispute related to any complaint made under the provisions of this chapter and which requires replacement or refund shall be resold, transferred or leased in the state without clear and conspicuous written disclosure of the fact that such motor vehicle was so returned prior to resale or lease. Such disclosure shall be affixed to the motor vehicle and shall be included in any contract for sale or lease. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall, by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, prescribe the form and content of any such disclosure statement and establish provisions by which the commissioner may remove such written disclosure after such time as the commissioner may determine that such motor vehicle is no longer defective.(2) For any motor vehicle subject to a complaint made under the provisions of this chapter, if a manufacturer accepts the return of a motor vehicle or compensates any person who accepts the return of a motor vehicle, whether the return is pursuant to an arbitration award or settlement, such manufacturer shall stamp the words "MANUFACTURER BUYBACK-LEMON" clearly and conspicuously on the face of the original title in letters at least one-quarter inch high and, not later than thirty days after receipt of the title, shall submit a copy of the stamped title to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall maintain a listing of such buyback vehicles and in the case of any request for a title for a buyback vehicle, shall cause the words "MANUFACTURER BUYBACK-LEMON" to appear clearly and conspicuously on the face of the new title in letters which are at least one-quarter inch high. Any person who applies for a title shall disclose to the department the fact that such vehicle was returned as set forth in this subsection.(3) If a manufacturer accepts the return of a motor vehicle from a consumer due to a nonconformity or defect, in exchange for a refund or a replacement vehicle, whether as a result of an administrative or judicial determination, an arbitration proceeding or a voluntary settlement, the manufacturer shall notify the Department of Motor Vehicles and shall provide the department with all relevant information, including the year, make, model, vehicle identification number and prior title number of the vehicle. Such manufacturer shall stamp the words "MANUFACTURER BUYBACK-LEMON" clearly and conspicuously on the face of the original title in letters at least one-quarter-inch high, and, not later than thirty days after receipt of the title, shall submit a copy of the stamped title to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 specifying the format and time period in which such information shall be provided and the nature of any additional information which the commissioner may require.(4) The provisions of this subsection shall apply to motor vehicles originally returned in another state from a consumer due to a nonconformity or defect in exchange for a refund or replacement vehicle and which a lessor or transferor with actual knowledge subsequently sells, transfers or leases in this state.(5) If a manufacturer fails to stamp a title as required by this subsection within thirty days of receipt of the title, the Department of Consumer Protection may impose a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars on the manufacturer. Any such fine shall be deposited into the new automobile warranties account established pursuant to section 42-190. A manufacturer that is aggrieved by a fine imposed pursuant to this subsection may, within ten days of receipt of written notice of such fine from the department, request, in writing, a hearing. The department shall, upon the receipt of all documentation necessary to evaluate the request, determine whether circumstances beyond the manufacturer's control prevented performance, and may conduct a hearing pursuant to chapter 54, if appropriate.(h) All express and implied warranties arising from the sale of a new motor vehicle shall be subject to the provisions of part 3 of article 2 of title 42a.(i) Nothing in this section shall in any way limit the rights or remedies which are otherwise available to a consumer under any other law.(j) If a manufacturer has established an informal dispute settlement procedure which is certified by the Attorney General as complying in all respects with the provisions of Title 16 Code of Federal Regulations Part 703, as in effect on October 1, 1982, and with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 42-182, the provisions of subsection (d) of this section concerning refunds or replacement shall not apply to any consumer who has not first resorted to such procedure.(k) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-179
(P.A. 82-287; P.A. 83-351, S. 1; 83-458; P.A. 84-338, S. 3, 8; 84-429, S. 75; P.A. 85-331, S. 1, 6; 85-613, S. 132, 154; P.A. 87-342, S. 1, 5; 87-522, S. 2, 6; P.A. 89-173, S. 1, 2; P.A. 92-190 ; P.A. 93-435 , S. 14 , 95 ; P.A. 97-6 ; P.A. 98-211 , S. 2 .)
Amended by P.A. 22-0070, S. 14 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2022.Amended by P.A. 21-0037, S. 41 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2021. Cited. 203 C. 63 ; 209 Conn. 579 ; 212 C. 83 . Motorcycles fall within definition of "motor vehicle". 40 CS 156. Subsec. (a): Subdiv. (2): Motorcycles are not passenger motor vehicles within meaning of section. 239 Conn. 1 . Subsec. (d): Cited. 213 C. 136 . Standard for determining whether a defect substantially impairs the use, safety or value of a motor vehicle to the consumer is both subjective and objective. 247 C. 274 . Legislature did not intend to waive sovereign immunity under Subsec. to permit manufacturer of defective motor vehicles to claim reimbursement of sales tax refunded to consumers under state lemon law; plaintiff manufacturer not an aggrieved taxpayer entitled to reimbursement of refunded tax under Sec. 12-422 or 12-425; because plaintiff did not seek declaratory or injunctive relief for claims of violation of due process and equal protection rights, plaintiff's claims must be characterized as claims for damages and are barred by sovereign immunity. 284 C. 701 . Certain transmission noise in plaintiff's car did not substantially impair its use, safety or value within meaning of statute. 80 CA 146. Subsec. (e): Plaintiff's attempt to replace truck's hood constituted a reasonable number of repair attempts as required by Subsec. 247 Conn. 274 .