Warranties, dispute programs and arbitration compared
| Brand | Basic warranty | Dispute program | Binding arbitration in warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep | 3 years / 36,000 miles | NCDS (FCA US Customer Arbitration Process) | Yes, 30-day opt-out |
| Ford | 3 years / 36,000 miles | BBB AUTO LINE (national) | Not in the warranty we read |
| Chevrolet & GM | 3 years / 36,000 miles | BBB AUTO LINE (national) | Not in the warranty we read |
| Tesla | 4 years / 50,000 miles | NCDS (optional) | Yes, 30-day opt-out |
| Audi | 4 years / 50,000 miles | BBB AUTO LINE (national) | Not in the warranty we read |
| Nissan | 3 years / 36,000 miles | BBB AUTO LINE (national) | Not in the warranty we read |
| Hyundai | 5 years / 60,000 miles | BBB AUTO LINE (national) | Not in the warranty we read |
| Honda | 3 years / 36,000 miles | NCDS | Yes, 30-day opt-out |
| Toyota | 36 months / 36,000 miles | Toyota Dispute Settlement Program (NCDS) | Not in the warranty we read |
| Kia | 5 years / 60,000 miles | BBB AUTO LINE (state by state) | Not in the warranty we read |
| Dodge & Ram | 3 years / 36,000 miles | NCDS (FCA US Customer Arbitration Process) | Yes, 30-day opt-out |
| BMW | 4 years / 50,000 miles | NCDS in 10 states; CDSP in California | Not in the warranty we read |
Terms vary by model year and dispute programs change. Your own warranty booklet is the final word.
Arbitration clauses: the 30-day decision
Three manufacturers in our guides now put a binding arbitration provision in front of new owners. It lets the manufacturer (or you) send a dispute to a private arbitrator instead of a judge or jury. Each one allows you to opt out by letter, but only for a short time:
- Honda: an Agreement to Arbitrate through the American Arbitration Association in the 2025 warranty booklet. Opt out within 30 days after delivery.
- Tesla: an Agreement to Arbitrate in the Vehicle Order Agreement, referenced in the warranty. Opt out within 30 days after signing.
- Jeep, Dodge and Ram (FCA US, Stellantis): a binding arbitration provision in the 2025 warranty booklets. Opt out within 30 days of delivery and signing the dealer’s acknowledgment form.
Every one of these clauses still lets you take an individual dispute to small claims court, and none of them stops you from using the manufacturer’s non-binding program. Whether an arbitration clause can be enforced against a particular state lemon law claim is a legal question that depends on your state, so if you are past the opt-out window and the manufacturer raises it, talk to a lemon law attorney.
BBB AUTO LINE and NCDS: what they are
Most manufacturers send warranty disputes to one of two independent programs before you go to court. BBB AUTO LINE is run by BBB National Programs. NCDS, the National Center for Dispute Settlement, runs programs for Toyota, Honda, Tesla, BMW and FCA US, among others. Both are free to consumers and do not require a lawyer.
When a program follows the FTC’s Rule 703, it must decide within 40 days and its decision does not bind you: if you reject it, you can still go to court. A manufacturer can require you to use such a program before suing under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which is what Toyota’s and BMW’s booklets say. Some states also require a certified program before their own lemon law process. Read more in our lemon law arbitration guide.
Participation is not always national. Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan, Hyundai, Audi and Volkswagen are national BBB AUTO LINE participants; Kia participates state by state; BMW’s program covers only ten states and California.
A longer warranty does not mean a longer lemon law window
It is easy to assume that Hyundai’s or Kia’s 5-year warranty gives you five years of lemon law protection. In most places it does not. 48 of the 50 jurisdictions we cover measure the window from delivery for a fixed time, from one to three years, often with a mileage cap of 12,000 to 24,000 miles. The warranty keeps paying for repairs after that, but repairs outside the window usually do not count toward a buyback.
Only New Hampshire and Vermont tie the window to the warranty term itself. A few states also stop the window early if the warranty expires first. Our state guides list each rule.
| Window | States |
|---|---|
| The warranty term | New Hampshire, Vermont |
| Three years | Maine |
| Two years | Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington |
| 18 months | California, Indiana, Virginia |
| One year | Alaska, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
Your brand is not listed?
Your state’s lemon law still applies. To find the dispute program, check your warranty booklet first, then these participant lists, which we checked in October 2026:
| Buick, GMC, Cadillac | BBB AUTO LINE |
|---|---|
| Lincoln | BBB AUTO LINE |
| Genesis | BBB AUTO LINE |
| Infiniti | BBB AUTO LINE |
| Volkswagen | BBB AUTO LINE (national) |
| Mazda | BBB AUTO LINE; also on NCDS’s client list |
| Rivian, Lucid | BBB AUTO LINE |
| Land Rover, Jaguar | BBB AUTO LINE |
| Subaru | BBB AUTO LINE in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon and Wisconsin |
| Volvo | BBB AUTO LINE in Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky and Minnesota |
| Lexus, Acura, MINI | NCDS |
| Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi | NCDS |
A brand on a list may limit which claims or states it accepts. The program summary or your warranty booklet has the details.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a lemon law for specific car brands?
No. Lemon laws are state laws that apply to every manufacturer. The brand affects the warranty, the dispute program and any arbitration clause, not your basic rights.
Which car brands have arbitration clauses?
Among the brands we cover, Honda (2025 warranty), Tesla (Vehicle Order Agreement) and FCA US brands Jeep, Dodge and Ram (2025 warranties). Each allows a 30-day opt-out by letter.
Which manufacturers use BBB AUTO LINE?
Among our brands, Ford, Chevrolet and GM brands, Nissan, Hyundai, Audi and Kia (state by state). Toyota, Honda, Tesla, BMW and FCA US use NCDS.
Do I have to use the manufacturer’s dispute program?
Sometimes. Some warranties require it before a federal Magnuson-Moss lawsuit, and some states require it before their lemon law process. Your state guide explains.
Does the brand’s warranty length change my lemon law window?
Only in New Hampshire and Vermont, where the window is the warranty term. Elsewhere the window is a fixed period from delivery.
Sources
Checked on October 13, 2026. Read how we verify every rule in our editorial policy.
- BBB National Programs: BBB AUTO LINE participating manufacturers
- National Center for Dispute Settlement: client list
- 16 C.F.R. Part 703 (FTC rules for warranty dispute programs)
- Mopar: 2025 Jeep warranty information (gas and PHEV)
- Ford: What is the Ford New Vehicle Limited Warranty?
- Chevrolet: Owner warranty information
- Tesla: Vehicle Warranty
- Audi USA: Warranty and protection plans
- Nissan USA: Warranty and protection
- Hyundai USA: America’s Best Warranty
- Honda: 2025 Honda Warranty Basebook
- Toyota: 2026 Corolla Warranty & Maintenance Guide
- Kia: Warranty
- Mopar: 2025 Dodge warranty information
- BMW: 2026 New Vehicle Limited Warranty booklet