The bill H. 5242 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by redefining the term "motor vehicles" in Section 56-28-10 and adding Section 56-28-15, which establishes new requirements for manufacturers of recreational vehicles. The redefined term "motor vehicle" now includes passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, and recreational vehicles, while explicitly excluding motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and commercial vehicles over a certain weight. The bill also clarifies the definitions of various types of recreational vehicles and introduces the term "nonconformity," which refers to defects that significantly impair a vehicle's use, value, or safety.

Under the new Section 56-28-15, manufacturers are required to replace or repurchase recreational vehicles that have defects impairing their use, value, or safety if they cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. A reasonable number of attempts is defined as three or more repair attempts for the same issue within the first twelve months or twelve thousand miles of use, or if the vehicle is out of service for thirty or more days due to repairs. The bill specifies that this coverage applies to structural components and systems of the recreational vehicle but excludes items under separate warranties, normal wear and tear, and damages from owner modifications or commercial use. The provisions of this section will take effect for vehicles sold or leased on or after January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
02/24/2026: 56-28-10, 56-28-15
Latest Version: 56-28-10, 56-28-15