February 19, 2004 - Introduced by Representatives Gundrum, Gronemus, Plouff,
Montgomery, Huebsch, Kestell, Suder, Freese, Honadel, Musser, Ladwig,
Ainsworth, J. Fitzgerald, Hundertmark, Nischke, Vrakas, McCormick
and
Towns, cosponsored by Senator Zien. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AB856,1,5 1An Act to amend 218.0171 (1) (f), 218.0171 (1) (h) 2., 218.0171 (2) (a), 218.0171
2(2) (b) 1., 218.0171 (2) (b) 2. (intro.), 218.0171 (2) (b) 2. a., 218.0171 (2) (b) 2. b.,
3218.0171 (2) (c), 218.0171 (3) and 218.0171 (7); and to create 218.0171 (1) (am)
4of the statutes; relating to: repair, replacement, and refund under new motor
5vehicle warranties.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently the law governing repair, replacement and refund under a motor
vehicle warranty, commonly called the "lemon law," provides remedies to a person
who purchases or leases a new motor vehicle. Among other things, the lemon law
requires a motor vehicle dealer to repair a nonconformity (a condition or defect that
substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the motor vehicle) that is covered
by an express warranty applicable to a new motor vehicle sold or leased to a
consumer, and that was not caused by the consumer's use or neglect. In general, if
the nonconformity cannot be repaired and the consumer reports the nonconformity
to the manufacturer, the motor vehicle lessor or any of the manufacturer's authorized
motor vehicle dealers within one year after the first delivery of the motor vehicle to
the consumer or before the expiration of the express warranty, then the consumer
may require the manufacturer to do one of the following: 1) accept return of the motor
vehicle and replace it with a comparable new motor vehicle and refund any collateral
costs incurred by the consumer; or 2) accept return of the motor vehicle and refund
the full purchase price of the motor vehicle plus any sales tax, finance charge,

amount paid by the consumer at the point of sale, and collateral costs, less a
reasonable amount for use.
Under this bill, a manufacturer may opt to refund the purchase price of a motor
vehicle unless the consumer opts for a replacement vehicle when the consumer offers
to transfer title to the manufacturer in order to receive a replacement or refund. The
bill also provides that a vehicle must be out of service and in the custody of the
manufacturer or its agent for 30 days before the customer becomes eligible for a
replacement or refund.
The bill also excludes from the definition of a "nonconformity" those portions
of a motor home that are used or designed primarily as living facilities. Finally, the
bill changes the lemon law as it relates to commercial motor vehicles by granting a
manufacturer a final attempt to cure within a certain time frame before a
replacement or refund may be granted, and extends the time for a replacement of the
commercial motor vehicle if a final cure cannot be effected. However, if the
manufacturer cannot replace a commercial motor vehicle within 30 days, the
manufacturer must, upon request by the consumer, provide a vehicle for the
consumer's temporary use until the manufacturer can provide the replacement
commercial motor vehicle.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB856, s. 1 1Section 1. 218.0171 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB856,2,42 218.0171 (1) (am) "Commercial vehicle" means a motor vehicle designed or
3used to transport passengers or property for commercial purposes and having at
4least one of the following characteristics:
AB856,2,65 1. The vehicle is a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating, registered
6weight, or actual gross weight of 16,001 or more pounds.
AB856,2,107 2. The vehicle is a combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating,
8registered weight, or actual gross weight of 16,001 or more pounds inclusive of a
9towed unit with a gross weight weight rating, registered weight, or actual gross
10weight of more than 10,000 pounds.
AB856, s. 2 11Section 2. 218.0171 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB856,3,12
1218.0171 (1) (f) "Nonconformity" means a condition or defect which
2substantially impairs the use, value or safety of a motor vehicle, and is covered by
3an express warranty applicable to the motor vehicle or to a component of the motor
4vehicle, but . "Nonconformity" does not include a condition or defect which is the
5result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modification or alteration of the motor
6vehicle by a consumer, or a condition or defect affecting those portions of a motor
7home designed, used, or maintained primarily as living facilities. Living facilities
8of a motor home include the flooring, appliances, plumbing system and fixtures, roof
9air conditioner, television and entertainment systems, furnace, generator, electrical
10systems other than automotive circuits, the side entrance door, exterior
11compartments, and any windows other than the windshield and driver and front
12passenger windows
.
AB856, s. 3 13Section 3. 218.0171 (1) (h) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB856,3,2014 218.0171 (1) (h) 2. The motor vehicle is out of service and in the custody of the
15manufacturer, an authorized dealer, or an appropriate authorized warranty repair
16facility due to repair attempts
for an aggregate of at least 30 days because of
17warranty nonconformities. Time spent in the custody of the manufacturer,
18authorized dealer, or authorized warranty repair facility during the final attempt to
19cure provided under sub. (2) (a) may not be included in the 30-day time period under
20this paragraph.
AB856, s. 4 21Section 4. 218.0171 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB856,4,1522 218.0171 (2) (a) If a new motor vehicle does not conform to an applicable
23express warranty and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer,
24the motor vehicle lessor or, any of the manufacturer's authorized motor vehicle
25dealers, or an appropriate authorized warranty repair facility and makes the motor

1vehicle available for repair before the expiration of the warranty or one year after
2first delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer, whichever is sooner, the
3nonconformity shall be repaired. In the case of a commercial vehicle or a motor home,
4if the manufacturer, its agent, its authorized dealer, or an appropriate authorized
5warranty repair facility is unable to repair or correct any nonconformity in a new
6motor vehicle after a reasonable attempt to repair, the consumer shall notify the
7manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, at the address provided by
8the manufacturer. The manufacturer shall, within 7 days after receipt of such
9notification, notify the consumer of a reasonably accessible repair facility and, after
10delivery of the vehicle to the designated repair facility by the consumer, the
11manufacturer shall, within 14 days, conform the motor vehicle to the warranty. If
12the manufacturer fails to notify the consumer of a reasonably accessible repair
13facility or perform the repairs within the time periods prescribed in this subsection,
14the requirement that the manufacturer of the commercial vehicle or motor home be
15given a final attempt to cure the nonconformity does not apply.
AB856, s. 5 16Section 5. 218.0171 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB856,4,1917 218.0171 (2) (b) 1. If after a reasonable attempt to repair or a final attempt to
18cure provided under par. (a)
the nonconformity is not repaired, the manufacturer
19shall carry out the requirement under subd. 2. or 3., whichever is appropriate.
AB856, s. 6 20Section 6. 218.0171 (2) (b) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB856,4,2221 218.0171 (2) (b) 2. (intro.) At the direction of a consumer described under sub.
22(1) (b) 1., 2. or 3.,
The manufacturer shall do one of the following:
AB856, s. 7 23Section 7. 218.0171 (2) (b) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB856,5,624 218.0171 (2) (b) 2. a. Accept return of the motor vehicle and replace the motor
25vehicle with a comparable new motor vehicle and refund any collateral costs. The

1consumer has the option of selecting a comparable new vehicle under this paragraph,
2except that, in lieu of a comparable new vehicle, the manufacturer may elect to
3provide a refund under this paragraph upon waiver by the manufacturer of the
4allowance for a use deduction provided under this paragraph. If the consumer selects
5a comparable new vehicle, he or she shall inform the manufacturer in the offer made
6pursuant to par. (c).
AB856, s. 8 7Section 8. 218.0171 (2) (b) 2. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB856,5,208 218.0171 (2) (b) 2. b. Accept return of the motor vehicle and refund to the
9consumer and to any holder of a perfected security interest in the consumer's motor
10vehicle, as their interest may appear, the full purchase price plus any sales tax,
11finance charge, amount paid by the consumer at the point of sale and collateral costs,
12less a reasonable allowance for use. Under this subdivision, a reasonable allowance
13for use may not exceed the amount obtained by multiplying the full purchase price
14of the motor vehicle by a fraction, the denominator of which is 100,000 or, for a
15motorcycle, 20,000, or, for a motor home, 60,000, and the numerator of which is the
16number of miles the motor vehicle was driven before the consumer first reported the
17nonconformity to the motor vehicle dealer. The consumer has the option of selecting
18a refund under this paragraph. If the consumer selects a refund, he or she shall
19inform the manufacturer in the offer made pursuant to par. (c), and the manufacturer
20shall provide a refund.
AB856, s. 9 21Section 9. 218.0171 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB856,6,1422 218.0171 (2) (c) To receive a comparable new motor vehicle or a refund due
23under par. (b) 1. or 2., a consumer described under sub. (1) (b) 1., 2. or 3. shall offer
24to the manufacturer of the motor vehicle having the nonconformity to transfer title
25of that motor vehicle to that manufacturer. No later than 30 days after that offer, the

1manufacturer shall provide the consumer with the comparable new motor vehicle or
2refund, except that, if the motor vehicle is a commercial vehicle, the manufacturer
3shall provide the owner, within 30 days after the offer, with a refund or with a
4commitment in writing that the manufacturer will provide the owner with a
5comparable new commercial vehicle within 120 days from the date of the written
6commitment. The commercial vehicle manufacturer shall exercise due diligence in
7providing a comparable commercial vehicle. If the commercial vehicle manufacturer
8opts to provide a comparable vehicle but is unable to do so within 30 days, the
9manufacturer shall provide, at the direction of the consumer, a vehicle for the
10temporary use by the consumer until the manufacturer provides the comparable new
11vehicle
. When the manufacturer provides the new motor vehicle or refund, the
12consumer shall return the motor vehicle having the nonconformity to the
13manufacturer and provide the manufacturer with the certificate of title and all
14endorsements necessary to transfer title to the manufacturer.
AB856, s. 10 15Section 10. 218.0171 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB856,6,2016 218.0171 (3) If there is available to the consumer an informal dispute
17settlement procedure which that is certified under sub. (4), the consumer may not
18bring an action under sub. (7) or make an offer specified in sub. (2) (c) or (cm) unless
19he or she first resorts to completes that procedure and provides written notice to the
20manufacturer that he or she rejects the decision rendered in the procedure
.
AB856, s. 11 21Section 11. 218.0171 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB856,7,1322 218.0171 (7) In addition to pursuing any other remedy, a consumer may bring
23an action to recover for any damages caused by a violation of this section. The sub.
24(2) (b). If the consumer has been awarded relief under an informal dispute
25settlement procedure that is certified under sub. (4) the court shall award a

1consumer who prevails in an action brought under this section the remedies of sub.
2(2) (b) 2. a. or b., together with costs, disbursements, and reasonable attorney fees,
3and any equitable relief the court determines appropriate. If the manufacturer does
4not have an informal dispute settlement procedure that is certified under sub. (4),
5or if the consumer is not granted an award under the certified procedure, the
court
6shall award a consumer who prevails in such an action twice the amount of any
7pecuniary loss, together with costs, disbursements and reasonable attorney fees, and
8any equitable relief the court determines appropriate. If the vehicle is a commercial
9vehicle, the portion of pecuniary loss subject to doubling is limited to the purchase
10price of the vehicle's components installed or warranted by the manufacturer, less
11a reasonable allowance for use. An action must be commenced within 2 years after
12first delivery of the motor vehicle except that the period is tolled by participation in
13an informal dispute settlement procedure as specified in sub. (3).
AB856,7,1414 (End)
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