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Oklahoma lemon law: when your car is a lemon and how to claim

In Oklahoma, a new car counts as a lemon after 4 repairs for the same problem or 30 business days in the shop within the first 12 months. First, send the manufacturer a written notice: the free letter below does it.

Checked against official sources: Oct 22, 2026

12 monthslemon law period
4 triesrepairs for the same problem
30 business daysout of service
Maybecheck your warranty booklet for an arbitration program (e.g. BBB AUTO LINE)
Get your letter ↓

Your next 4 steps in Oklahoma

  1. Keep every repair order

    Get a written repair order at every visit, with the date, mileage and days in the shop. In Oklahoma, a car is presumed a lemon after 4 repairs for the same problem or 30 business days in the shop.

  2. Send the manufacturer a written notice

    You must report the defect directly in writing to the manufacturer, its agent or dealer during the warranty term or first year. Write your notice letter ↓

  3. Let the manufacturer make its final repair attempt

    If the manufacturer asks for one more repair after your notice, take the car in and get a repair order.

  4. Ask for a refund or replacement, use arbitration, or call a lawyer

    If your manufacturer has a dispute program that meets the state’s rules (check your warranty booklet), you may have to use it first. See the Arbitration section below. If you win, the court can make the manufacturer pay your lawyer (see What you can get), so many lemon law lawyers charge nothing up front.

When a car is a lemon in Oklahoma

Your car is presumed a lemon if the same defect was repaired 4 or more times within the warranty term or the first year (whichever ends first) and still exists, or if it was out of service for repairs a total of 30 business days in that time. The presumption only applies if the manufacturer got prior direct written notice from you or for you and a chance to fix the defect.

Period: The express warranty term or 1 year from original delivery, whichever ends first. There is no mileage limit in the law.

Is your car a lemon in Oklahoma? A quick check

Oklahoma: The express warranty term or 1 year from original delivery, whichever ends first. There is no mileage limit in the law.

Count only business days, as Oklahoma’s law does.

Fill in what you knowThe result updates as you type.

A rough guide to Oklahoma’s presumption, not legal advice. Even if your car falls short, you may still have a claim under your warranty or federal law.

Notice to the manufacturer

You must report the defect directly in writing to the manufacturer, its agent or dealer during the warranty term or first year. Before you can use the presumption, the manufacturer must have received direct written notification from you or on your behalf and an opportunity to cure (15 O.S. § 901(B), (C)). Certified mail gives you proof.

Write your notice letter below.

Arbitration

Maybe — check your warranty booklet for an arbitration program (e.g. BBB AUTO LINE). Only if the manufacturer has a dispute program that fully complies with the FTC rules (16 CFR Part 703) must you use it before you can get a refund or replacement under the lemon law (15 O.S. § 901(F)). Oklahoma has no state-run lemon law arbitration; the New Motor Vehicle Commission points consumers to BBB AUTO LINE, which is free for owners of participating brands.

What you can get

The manufacturer must either take the vehicle back and refund the full purchase price including all taxes, license and registration fees and similar government fees (but not interest), or replace it with a comparable new model acceptable to you; if you cannot agree on a comparable model, you get the refund. The deduction for use is the purchase or lease price times the miles you drove beyond 15,000, divided by 120,000.

Attorney fees: If you win a lawsuit under the lemon law, you recover all costs and reasonable attorney fees set by the court (15 O.S. § 901(J)).

Free lemon law notice letter

Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. Fill this in, download the letter, sign it and mail it to the manufacturer. Keep a copy.

Send it by certified mail with return receipt so you have proof, and keep the receipt.

On your registration, insurance card or the driver’s side of the dashboard. A VIN never uses I, O or Q.

Find it in your warranty booklet or owner's manual (look for 'Customer Assistance').

Other formats

Who to contact

Office
Oklahoma Attorney General, Consumer Protection Unit
Phone
405-521-2029

Official page

What the law covers

New vehicles
Yes
Used vehicles
No
Leased vehicles
Not specified
Which vehicles
New motor vehicles that must be registered in Oklahoma, up to 10,000 lb gross vehicle weight. Since November 1, 2022, recreational vehicles are covered regardless of weight.
Who can claim
The buyer (not for resale), anyone the vehicle is transferred to while the express warranty lasts, and anyone else entitled to enforce the warranty.

Used cars in Oklahoma

The lemon law covers new vehicles only. Complaints about used-car dealers go to the Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle, Dismantler, and Manufactured Housing Commission.

Used car rules in every state

Good to know

  • Your first 15,000 miles are free: the use deduction only counts miles beyond 15,000 (15 O.S. § 901(C)).
  • Bought-back vehicles must be retitled with a permanent 'Lemon Law Buyback' brand (15 O.S. § 901.1).
  • A vehicle returned for a complete failure of the brakes or steering likely to cause death or serious injury may not be resold (15 O.S. § 901(I)).

Questions about Oklahoma's lemon law

How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Oklahoma?

Your car is presumed a lemon if the same defect was repaired 4 or more times within the warranty term or the first year (whichever ends first) and still exists, or if it was out of service for repairs a total of 30 business days in that time. The presumption only applies if the manufacturer got prior direct written notice from you or for you and a chance to fix the defect.

How long does Oklahoma's lemon law cover a car?

The express warranty term or 1 year from original delivery, whichever ends first. There is no mileage limit in the law.

Do I have to notify the manufacturer in Oklahoma?

You must report the defect directly in writing to the manufacturer, its agent or dealer during the warranty term or first year. Before you can use the presumption, the manufacturer must have received direct written notification from you or on your behalf and an opportunity to cure (15 O.S. § 901(B), (C)). Certified mail gives you proof.

Do I have to go to arbitration in Oklahoma?

Only if the manufacturer has a dispute program that fully complies with the FTC rules (16 CFR Part 703) must you use it before you can get a refund or replacement under the lemon law (15 O.S. § 901(F)). Oklahoma has no state-run lemon law arbitration; the New Motor Vehicle Commission points consumers to BBB AUTO LINE, which is free for owners of participating brands.

What can I get under Oklahoma's lemon law?

The manufacturer must either take the vehicle back and refund the full purchase price including all taxes, license and registration fees and similar government fees (but not interest), or replace it with a comparable new model acceptable to you; if you cannot agree on a comparable model, you get the refund. The deduction for use is the purchase or lease price times the miles you drove beyond 15,000, divided by 120,000.

Does Oklahoma's lemon law cover used cars?

The lemon law covers new vehicles only. Complaints about used-car dealers go to the Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle, Dismantler, and Manufactured Housing Commission.

Car not covered, or the period has passed? Federal warranty law may still help, and small claims court can handle smaller repair bills.

Federal warranty law

Sources

Last checked: Oct 22, 2026.

Law: Oklahoma Lemon Law, Okla. Stat. tit. 15, §§ 901 and 901.1

Other states