Lemon Law Demand Letter — New Mexico

In New Mexico, a new vehicle is presumed a lemon if, within the earlier of the express warranty term or 1 year after original delivery, it has had four repair attempts for the same nonconformity, or the vehicle in the manufacturer’s (or its agent’s or dealer’s) possession for repair a cumulative 30 or more business days. Below is a ready-to-edit lemon law demand letter with New Mexico's statute — the Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act — already cited; add your vehicle and repair history, then send it to the manufacturer.

New Mexico at a glance

Coverage window: the earlier of the express warranty term or 1 year after original delivery.
The tests: four repair attempts for the same nonconformity, or the vehicle in the manufacturer’s (or its agent’s or dealer’s) possession for repair a cumulative 30 or more business days.
What this letter does: statutorily required for the presumption to apply — direct written notification to the manufacturer by certified mail, documenting the defect and repair history, and giving it an opportunity to cure.
Where it escalates: the manufacturer’s certified informal dispute settlement program if it has one and the New Mexico Attorney General has found it fair and impartial (required first), or a civil lawsuit, where a prevailing consumer recovers reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
New Mexico’s law is explicit: the presumption of a reasonable number of repair attempts does not apply unless the manufacturer received prior direct written notification from you.
New Mexico’s law cuts both ways on attorney’s fees: a consumer who prevails recovers fees and costs, but a consumer who sues frivolously or in bad faith can be ordered to pay the manufacturer’s fees instead.

Lemon Law Demand Letter

Copy the letter below into the editor, replace the text in [brackets] with your details, and PostPal will print and mail it for you.

Subject: Lemon Law Notice — Demand for Repurchase or Replacement

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, New Mexico ZIP Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]

[Date]

[Manufacturer Name] — Customer Relations / Owner Relations
[Manufacturer Address — listed in your warranty booklet or owner's manual]

RE: Direct written notification under the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act
Vehicle: [Year] [Make] [Model], VIN [VIN]

Dear [Manufacturer Name] Owner Relations,

I am the [owner / lessee] of a [Year] [Make] [Model], VIN [VIN], purchased [or leased] new on [Purchase Date] from [Dealer Name] in [City], New Mexico.

Since delivery, the vehicle has exhibited the following defect: [describe the defect and how it impairs the vehicle's use, value, or safety]. The vehicle has been presented to your authorized dealer for repair of this defect on the following occasions:

• [Date] — [Repair order #] — [What was done]
• [Date] — [Repair order #] — [What was done]
• [Date] — [Repair order #] — [What was done]

In total, the defect has been subject to [number] repair attempts, and the vehicle has been out of service for [number] days. The defect remains uncorrected.

Under New Mexico’s Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act (N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 57-16A-1 to 57-16A-9), a manufacturer that cannot conform a new motor vehicle to its express warranty after a reasonable number of repair attempts must replace it or refund the purchase price. A reasonable number of attempts is presumed where the same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times, or the vehicle has been in the manufacturer’s (or its agent’s or dealer’s) possession for repair a cumulative 30 or more business days, within the earlier of the express warranty term or 1 year after delivery — but only once the manufacturer has received prior direct written notification from you and an opportunity to cure the defect.

This letter is my direct written notification, sent by certified mail, of the nonconformity described above and the repair history documenting it, giving you the opportunity to cure the defect. If it remains uncorrected, I intend to pursue replacement or a refund through your certified dispute settlement program, if you have one, or in court, without further notice to you.

Copies of my repair orders are available on request. Please respond in writing to the address above.

Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]

What your lemon law demand letter must include

Your full name, address, and contact details
The vehicle’s year, make, model, and VIN, plus the purchase/lease date and selling dealer
A clear description of the defect and how it impairs the vehicle’s use, value, or safety
The full repair history: dates, repair-order numbers, and days out of service (New Mexico looks for four repair attempts for the same nonconformity, or the vehicle in the manufacturer’s (or its agent’s or dealer’s) possession for repair a cumulative 30 or more business days)
What you are demanding — a repurchase (refund) or a comparable replacement vehicle
Proof of the mailing method — New Mexico requires this notice to go by certified mail

Frequently asked questions

When does a car qualify as a lemon in New Mexico?

The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer must have had a reasonable chance to fix it — in New Mexico that is presumed within the earlier of the express warranty term or 1 year after original delivery, after four repair attempts for the same nonconformity, or the vehicle in the manufacturer’s (or its agent’s or dealer’s) possession for repair a cumulative 30 or more business days. Keep every repair order; the paper trail is the claim.

Do I need to use an official form?

No official form. New Mexico’s law requires direct written notification to the manufacturer, by certified mail, documenting the defect and repair history — this letter satisfies that requirement, and the presumption of a reasonable number of attempts doesn’t apply without it.

Who do I send the letter to — the dealer or the manufacturer?

The manufacturer. Lemon law obligations run against the vehicle manufacturer, not the selling dealer — send it to the manufacturer’s customer/owner relations address listed in your warranty booklet or owner’s manual (PostPal’s where-to-mail directory also lists head-office addresses for major automakers like Ford, General Motors, and Tesla). Keep dealing with the dealer for the repairs themselves.

What happens after I send it?

If the manufacturer maintains an informal dispute settlement program that the New Mexico Attorney General has found fair and impartial, you generally must try it first. Otherwise, or if you’re dissatisfied with the outcome, you can sue — a prevailing consumer recovers reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

More lemon law demand letter templates for other states

Facts verified against official sources on September 3, 2026: law.justia.com, carlemon.com.

This template is provided for convenience only. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Court limits and rules change — confirm anything time-sensitive on the official page, and consult a qualified legal professional for advice specific to your situation.