Items that are covered under Wisconsin Lemon Law
Vehicles, registered (or transferred) in this state, including demonstrators, non-resident or foreign registered vehicles purchased, leased or transferred in this state, except mopeds, semi-trailers or trailers designed for use in combination with a truck
Wisconsin Lemon Law may apply if the following has occurred
4 repair attempts – 30 days out of service
Length of time or miles before the Wisconsin Lemon Law runs out
Express warranty period or 1 year, whichever occurs first.

Lemon Law in Wisconsin

218.015(1)
(1) (intro.) In this section:

218.015(1)(a)
(a) “Collateral costs” means expenses incurred by a consumer in connection with the
repair of a nonconformity, including the costs of obtaining alternative transportation.

218.015(1)(b)
(b) (intro.) “Consumer” means any of the following:

218.015(1)(b)1.
1. The purchaser of a new motor vehicle, if the motor vehicle was purchased from a motor
vehicle dealer for purposes other than resale.

218.015(1)(b)2.
2. A person to whom the motor vehicle is transferred for purposes other than resale, if the
transfer occurs before the expiration of an express warranty applicable to the motor
vehicle.

218.015(1)(b)3.
3. A person who may enforce the warranty.

218.015(1)(b)4.
4. A person who leases a motor vehicle from a motor vehicle lessor under a written lease.

218.015(1)(bd)
(bd) “Demonstrator” means used primarily for the purpose of demonstration to the
public.

218.015(1)(bg)
(bg) “Early termination cost” means any expense or obligation a motor vehicle lessor
incurs as a result of both the termination of a written lease before the termination date set
forth in that lease and the return of a motor vehicle to a manufacturer under sub. (2) (b) 3.
“Early termination cost” includes a penalty for prepayment under a finance arrangement.

218.015(1)(bj)
(bj) “Early termination savings” means any expense or obligation a motor vehicle lessor
avoids as a result of both the termination of a written lease before the termination date set
forth in that lease and the return of a motor vehicle to a manufacturer under sub. (2) (b) 3.
“Early termination savings” includes an interest charge the motor vehicle lessor would have
paid to finance the motor vehicle or, if the motor vehicle lessor does not finance the motor
vehicle, the difference between the total amount for which the lease obligates the consumer
during the period of the lease term remaining after the early termination and the present
value of that amount at the date of the early termination.

218.015(1)(bp)
(bp) “Executive” means used primarily by an executive of a licensed manufacturer,
distributor or dealer, and not used for demonstration to the public.

218.015(1)(c)
(c) “Manufacturer” means a manufacturer as defined in s. 218.01 (1) (L) and agents of the
manufacturer, including an importer, a distributor, factory branch, distributor branch and
any warrantors of the manufacturer’s motor vehicles, but not including a motor vehicle
dealer.

218.015(1)(d)
(d) “Motor vehicle” means any motor driven vehicle required to be registered under ch.
341 or exempt from registration under s. 341.05 (2), including a demonstrator or executive
vehicle not titled or titled by a manufacturer or a motor vehicle dealer, which a consumer
purchases or accepts transfer of in this state. “Motor vehicle” does not mean a moped,
semitrailer or trailer designed for use in combination with a truck or truck tractor.

218.015(1)(e)
(e) “Motor vehicle dealer” has the meaning given under s. 218.01 (1) (n).

218.015(1)(em)
(em) “Motor vehicle lessor” means a person who holds title to a motor vehicle leased to a
lessee, or who holds the lessor’s rights, under a written lease.

218.015(1)(f)
(f) “Nonconformity” means a condition or defect which substantially impairs the use,
value or safety of a motor vehicle, and is covered by an express warranty applicable to the
motor vehicle or to a component of the motor vehicle, but does not include a condition or
defect which is the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modification or alteration of the
motor vehicle by a consumer.

218.015(1)(h)
(h) (intro.) “Reasonable attempt to repair” means any of the following occurring within
the term of an express warranty applicable to a new motor vehicle or within one year after
first delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer, whichever is sooner:

218.015(1)(h)1.
1. The same nonconformity with the warranty is subject to repair by the manufacturer,
motor vehicle lessor or any of the manufacturer’s authorized motor vehicle dealers at least
4 times and the nonconformity continues.

218.015(1)(h)2.
2. The motor vehicle is out of service for an aggregate of at least 30 days because of
warranty nonconformities.

218.015(2)
(2)
218.015(2)(a)
(a) If a new motor vehicle does not conform to an applicable express warranty and the
consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, the motor vehicle lessor or any
of the manufacturer’s authorized motor vehicle dealers and makes the motor vehicle
available for repair before the expiration of the warranty or one year after first delivery of
the motor vehicle to a consumer, whichever is sooner, the nonconformity shall be repaired.

218.015(2)(b)
(b)
218.015(2)(b)1.
1. If after a reasonable attempt to repair the nonconformity is not repaired, the
manufacturer shall carry out the requirement under subd. 2. or 3., whichever is
appropriate.

218.015(2)(b)2.
2. (intro.) At the direction of a consumer described under sub. (1) (b) 1., 2. or 3., do one of
the following:

218.015(2)(b)2.a.
a. Accept return of the motor vehicle and replace the motor vehicle with a comparable new
motor vehicle and refund any collateral costs.

218.015(2)(b)2.b.
b. Accept return of the motor vehicle and refund to the consumer and to any holder of a
perfected security interest in the consumer’s motor vehicle, as their interest may appear,
the full purchase price plus any sales tax, finance charge, amount paid by the consumer at
the point of sale and collateral costs, less a reasonable allowance for use. Under this
subdivision, a reasonable allowance for use may not exceed the amount obtained by
multiplying the full purchase price of the motor vehicle by a fraction, the denominator of
which is 100,000 or, for a motorcycle, 20,000, and the numerator of which is the number
of miles the motor vehicle was driven before the consumer first reported the
nonconformity to the motor vehicle dealer.

218.015(2)(b)3.
3.
218.015(2)(b)3.a.
a. With respect to a consumer described in sub. (1) (b) 4., accept return of the motor
vehicle, refund to the motor vehicle lessor and to any holder of a perfected security interest
in the motor vehicle, as their interest may appear, the current value of the written lease and
refund to the consumer the amount the consumer paid under the written lease plus any
sales tax and collateral costs, less a reasonable allowance for use.

218.015(2)(b)3.b.
b. Under this subdivision, the current value of the written lease equals the total amount for
which that lease obligates the consumer during the period of the lease remaining after its
early termination, plus the motor vehicle dealer’s early termination costs and the value of
the motor vehicle at the lease expiration date if the lease sets forth that value, less the
motor vehicle lessor’s early termination savings.