Section 216E.4. Manufacturer’s duty to provide reimbursement or a loaner for temporary replacement of assistive devices — penalties.

  1.  Whenever an assistive device covered by a manufacturer’s express warranty is tendered by a consumer to the dealer from whom the assistive device was purchased or exchanged for the repair of any defect, malfunction, or nonconformity to which the warranty is applicable, the manufacturer shall provide the consumer, at the consumer’s choice, for the duration of the repair period, either a rental assistive device reimbursement of up to twenty dollars per day, or a loaner, without cost to the consumer, if a loaner is reasonably available or obtainable by the manufacturer, assistive device lessor, or assistive device dealer, if any of the following applies:

  a.  The repair period exceeds ten working days, including the day on which the device is tendered to the manufacturer or an assistive device dealer designated by the manufacturer for repairs. If the assistive device dealer does not tender the assistive device to the manufacturer in a timely enough manner for the manufacturer to make the repairs within ten days, the manufacturer shall have a cause of action against the assistive device dealer for reimbursement of any penalties that the manufacturer must pay.

  b.  The nonconformity is the same for which the assistive device has been tendered to the assistive device dealer for repair on at least two previous occasions.

  2.  The provisions of this section regarding a manufacturer’s duty shall apply for the period of the applicable express warranty, or until the date any repair required by the warranty is completed and the assistive device is returned to the consumer with the nonconformity eliminated, whichever is later, even if the assistive device is returned after the end of the warranty period.

98 Acts, ch 1042, §4