At Rockpoint Law, lemon law is all we do. We help Washington drivers hold manufacturers accountable when a new vehicle can't be fixed. Washington runs its own state arbitration board, and it's free — but the manufacturer will show up with counsel, so how you build the record still decides the case.
Start with a free case evaluation and find out whether your vehicle qualifies under Washington's Motor Vehicle Warranties Act.
Get Your Free Case Evaluation →Washington's Lemon Law is the Motor Vehicle Warranties Act, RCW 19.118. It covers new passenger cars, light trucks, and larger motorcycles bought or registered in Washington, and the eligibility period runs two years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Washington is an arbitration-first state. Before you can sue under the statute, the claim goes through the New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, run by the Washington State Attorney General's Office. The process is free to consumers — but a free process is not an easy one, and the manufacturer arrives prepared.
The defect has to substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. Washington also gives you a faster track for genuinely dangerous defects, which most drivers don't realize.
Send us your repair orders and we'll tell you honestly whether you have a claim.
Talk to Rockpoint Law →The manufacturer's dealer has tried four times to fix the same nonconformity and it is still there, all within the two-year or 24,000-mile eligibility period.
Washington's faster track. A serious safety defect — one that could cause death or serious injury — needs only two failed repair attempts to qualify.
The vehicle has been out of service for repairs for 30 cumulative days during the eligibility period. The days do not have to be consecutive.
| Requirement | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inside the 2-Year / 24,000-Mile Window | The defect must be reported within two years or 24,000 miles, and the vehicle must be new and registered in Washington. | Electrical fault reported at month 15, 20,000 miles |
| Four Repairs, Same Defect | The same nonconformity has gone through four authorized repair attempts. | Stalling repaired four times, still stalling |
| Two Repairs, Safety Defect | A serious safety defect that persists after two attempts. | Two failed brake-failure repairs |
| Or 30 Days Out of Service | The vehicle has spent 30 cumulative days in the shop during the eligibility period. | Several repair visits totaling 34 days |
Any defect that substantially impairs use, value, or safety can qualify. In Washington claims we see these most, and the state's wet climate makes water intrusion and electrical corrosion more common than in drier states.
Collect every repair order, the purchase or lease agreement, and the warranty booklet. In a Washington arbitration the repair orders and your written report to the manufacturer carry the case. Read each order before you leave the dealer.
We review the history and tell you honestly whether you qualify and on which track — the four-repair rule, the safety two-repair rule, or the 30-day rule. If none fit, we say so.
Washington's statute turns on notifying the manufacturer and giving a final repair chance. We make sure that notice is on record before the arbitration filing, because the board will ask for it.
We prepare and present your case to the Attorney General's New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board. It is free, but it is adversarial, and preparation is what separates a win from a denial.
If the board's decision does not reflect the record, Washington lets either side appeal to superior court. We handle that step too.
If the arbitration board or a court finds your vehicle qualifies, the manufacturer must repurchase or replace it. Under Washington's statute the remedy is real, and the fee provision keeps it within reach.
We prepare Washington cases for the Attorney General's arbitration board, not just for a settlement letter. The board hearing is where these claims are won or lost, and manufacturers treat it seriously — so do we.
We take these cases on the statute's fee-shifting provision, so you do not pay us out of pocket to bring the claim. Send us your repair orders and we will tell you what you have.
The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content or contacting Rockpoint Law does not create an attorney-client relationship. Lemon law cases vary depending on the facts of each situation and applicable Washington state law (RCW 19.118). For advice regarding your specific legal matter, please contact Rockpoint Law directly to schedule a consultation with a qualified attorney.
