The Lemon Law in Alaska

Alaska's Motor Vehicle Warranties Act covers new four-wheel vehicles normally used for personal, family or household purposes (not tractors, farm or off-road vehicles). If the manufacturer or dealer cannot fix a defect that substantially impairs use or market value after a reasonable number of attempts during the warranty or within one year of delivery, whichever ends first, the manufacturer must, at the owner's choice, replace the vehicle or refund the full purchase price minus a reasonable allowance for use. A reasonable number of attempts is presumed after three or more repairs of the same problem, or 30 or more business days out of service, within that period. The owner must send written notice by certified mail within 60 days after the warranty or one-year period ends; the manufacturer may make one final repair attempt within 30 days of the notice.

1) Written notice: to claim a refund or replacement, the owner must send written notice by certified mail to the manufacturer and to its dealer or repairing agent. The notice must be sent before 60 days have passed after the express warranty ends or one year after delivery to the original owner, whichever ends first. It must state that the vehicle has a nonconformity, describe it, state that a reasonable number of repair attempts has been made, and demand a refund or replacement to be delivered on the 60th day after the notice is mailed. 2) Final repair attempt: within 30 days after receiving the notice, the manufacturer may make a final attempt to fix the vehicle. 3) Arbitration: Alaska has no state-run lemon law arbitration program. If the manufacturer has an informal dispute program that substantially complies with federal rules (16 C.F.R. Part 703), or offers in writing after receiving the notice to arbitrate or mediate with a decision binding on the manufacturer but not the owner, and the program is approved by the Attorney General, the owner must use it first before the refund/replacement and shipping-cost provisions apply. 4) Deadline: the lemon law sections do not state a separate deadline to file a lawsuit.

The lemon law covers new vehicles only. The Department of Law advises "buyer beware" for used cars: there are very few laws protecting used-car buyers, especially when a car is sold "as is." Dealers must disclose the accident and repair history reported by the prior owner of a vehicle taken in trade.