Oklahoma 2022 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB3217 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/19/2022

                     
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022) 
 
HOUSE BILL 3217 	By: Roberts (Dustin) 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to contracts; amending 15 O.S. 2021, 
Section 901, which relates to repair of motor 
vehicles under warranty; modifying definition; and 
providing an effective date . 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     15 O.S. 2021, Section 901, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 901. A.  As used in this section: 
1.  "Consumer" means the purchaser, othe r than for purposes of 
resale, of a motor vehicle, any pe rson to whom such motor vehicle is 
transferred during the duration of an exp ress warranty applicable to 
such motor vehicle, and any other person enti tled by the terms of 
such warranty to enforce the obligations of the warranty; and 
2.  "Motor vehicle" means any motor-driven vehicle required to 
be registered under the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle License and 
Registration Act, excluding vehicles above ten thou sand (10,000) 
pounds gross vehicle weight and the living facilities of motor 
homes.  A recreational vehicle, as defined in Section 1-152.1 of   
 
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Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, regardless of the weight of the 
recreational vehicle, shall be considered a motor vehicle for the 
purposes of this section. 
B.  For the purposes of this act, if a new motor vehicle does 
not conform to all applicable express warranties, and the consumer 
reports the nonconformity , directly in writing, to the manufacturer, 
its agent or its authorized dealer during the term of such exp ress 
warranties or during the period of one (1) year follo wing the date 
of original delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer, whichever 
is the earlier date, the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized 
dealer shall make such repairs as are necessary to conform the 
vehicle to such express warranties, notwithst anding the fact that 
such repairs are made after the expiration of such term or such one -
year period. 
C.  If the manufacturer, or its agents or autho rized dealers are 
unable to conform the motor veh icle to any applicable express 
warranty by repairing or co rrecting any defect or condition whic h 
substantially impairs the use and value of the motor vehicle to the 
consumer after a reasonable number of atte mpts, the manufacturer 
shall either accept a return of the vehicle from the consumer and 
refund to the consumer the full purchase price includin g all taxes, 
license, registration fees and all similar governmental fees, 
excluding interest, less a reasonable allowance for the consumer 's 
use of the vehicle or replace the motor vehicle with a comparable   
 
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new model acceptable to the consumer.  If a comp arable model vehicle 
cannot be agreed upon, the purchase price shall be refunded less a 
reasonable allowance for the consumer's use of the vehicle .  Refunds 
shall be made to the consumer, and lienholder if any, as their 
interests may appear.  A reasonable allowance for use shall be the 
purchase or lease price of the new motor vehicle multiplied by a 
fraction having as the denominator one hundred twenty thousand 
(120,000) miles and having as the numerator the miles direct ly 
attributable to use by the consume r beyond fifteen thousand (15,000) 
miles. It shall be an affirmative defense to any claim under this 
act: 
1.  That an alleged nonconformity does not substantial ly impair 
such use and value; or 
2.  That a nonconformity is the result of abuse, neglect or 
unauthorized modifications or alterations of a motor vehicle. 
In no event shall the presumption described in this subsection 
apply against a manufacturer unless th e manufacturer has received 
prior direct written notificat ion from or on behalf of the consumer 
and has had an opportunity to cure the defect alleged. 
D.  It shall be presumed that a reasonable number of att empts 
have been undertaken to conform a motor veh icle to the applicable 
express warranties, if : 
1.  The same nonconformity has been subject to r epair four or 
more times by the manufacturer or its agents or authorized dealers   
 
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within the express warranty ter m or during the period of one (1) 
year following the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to 
a consumer, whichever is the earlier date , but such nonconformity 
continues to exist; or 
2.  The vehicle is out of service by reason of repair for a 
cumulative total of thirty (30) business days during such term or 
during such period, whichever is the earlier date. 
The term of an express warranty , such one-year period and such 
thirty-day period shall be extended by any period of time during 
which repair services are not available to the consumer because of a 
war, invasion, strike , fire, flood or other natural d isaster. 
E.  Nothing in this act shal l in any way limit the rights or 
remedies which are otherwise available to a consumer under any other 
law. 
F.  If a manufacturer has established an informal disp ute 
settlement procedure which complies in all respects wi th the 
provisions of Title 16, Code o f Federal Regulations, Part 703, as 
from time to time amended, the provisions of subsection C of this 
section concerning refunds or replacement shall not apply t o any 
consumer who has not first resorted to such procedur e. 
G.  The Oklahoma Attorney General shall prepare and place on the 
Attorney General's website a written statement explaining the rights 
of a purchaser under this law.  The dealer shall provide to t he   
 
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purchaser at the time of the original purchase of a new motor 
vehicle the written statement prepared by the Attorney General. 
H.  Vehicles returned pursuant to the provisions of this act may 
not be resold in this state unless: 
1.  The manufacturer provi des the same express warranty the 
manufacturer provided th e original purchaser, except that the term 
of the warranty need only last for twelve thousand (12,000) miles or 
twelve (12) months after the date of resale, whichever is earlier; 
or 
2.  The manufacturer, through the licensed dealer, provides the 
consumer with a written statement on a separate piece of paper that 
clearly discloses the reason or reasons the vehicle was reacquired 
by the manufacturer. 
I.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection H o f this 
section, returned vehicles shall not be resold if a new motor 
vehicle has been returned pursuant to the provisions of this act or 
a similar statute in another state because of nonconformity 
resulting in a complete failure of the braking or steering system 
likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if t he vehicle is 
driven. 
J.  In any civil action pursuant to this section wherein the 
consumer is the prevailing party in the civil action, the consumer 
shall recover all costs and reasonable attorney fees as determined 
by the court.   
 
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SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 20 22. 
 
58-1-9429 JBH 01/04/22