What can I do if the goods I bought are faulty?
Yes — if the goods turn out faulty you have a right against the seller, and the complaint deadline is two years, or five years for goods meant to last longer. Under Act no. 48/2003 on consumer sales you must raise a defect without undue delay after you discover it, and never within a shorter time than two months from then. The complaint deadline is two years from delivery, but five years for items meant to have a substantially longer life (appliances, furniture, cars). A defect that appears within six months of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery — the seller bears the burden of proof. The myth that costs people their rights: that a six-year rule applies (it is an English one, not Icelandic), or that a one-year manufacturer guarantee caps the right. Neither is true — the statutory right is against the seller, regardless of any shorter guarantee, and you need neither the original packaging nor to accept being sent to the manufacturer.
📋 The rules
- The complaint deadline is two years from delivery for ordinary goods, and five years for goods meant to last substantially longer (Art. 27 of Act no. 48/2003).
- You must raise a defect without undue delay after you discover it, but the time to complain is never shorter than two months from then.
- A defect that appears within six months of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery — the seller bears the burden of proof otherwise.
- The remedies are laddered: first repair or replacement at no cost to you, then a price reduction or rescission, and where relevant damages (Arts. 29–32).
- The right is against the seller; a voluntary guarantee by the manufacturer or seller for a shorter time does not curtail this statutory right.
🔓 Exceptions
- A guarantee that assumes liability for a longer time than the law, or on more points, applies in addition — it may improve your position but not reduce it.
- Defects caused by misuse, wear or accidents on the part of the consumer fall outside the right; it covers defects that were present at delivery.
- The right can be lost if you do not notify within the deadlines — unless the seller acted with gross negligence or bad faith.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The cost usually lies in not knowing the right. A consumer who thinks a one-year guarantee is the end may throw away a valid claim, even though the statutory deadline is two or five years against the seller. A seller who rejects a valid claim or tries to send the consumer to the manufacturer can end up before the complaints board for goods and services or the Consumer Agency, and bear repair, return and legal costs as well as having to remedy the fault in the end. The hidden cost for the consumer is twofold: delaying too long to complain — the claim can fall on time limits — and not keeping a receipt, which is the simplest proof of purchase even though packaging is not required. In a rescission the consumer must be able to return the goods largely in the same condition, but loss of value from ordinary examination is not deducted from the right. The wisest course is to complain in writing, as soon as the defect appears, and keep all documents.
📎 Official sources
- Althingi · Act no. 48/2003 on consumer sales →
- Consumer Agency (Neytendastofa) · Consumer rights if goods are faulty (2 or 5 years) →
- Ísland.is · Complaints and guarantees →
❓ Frequently asked
How long is the complaint deadline if the goods are faulty?
The complaint deadline is two years from delivery for ordinary goods, but five years for goods meant to last substantially longer, such as appliances, furniture or cars. You must also raise the defect without undue delay after you discover it, but never within a shorter time than two months from then.
Is the complaint deadline not six years?
No, the six-year rule seen on some English pages does not apply in Iceland. The Icelandic consumer sales act no. 48/2003 provides a two-year deadline, or five years for durable goods, and that is the right that applies against the seller here.
Do I have to prove the defect existed at purchase?
Not for the first six months, because a defect that appears within six months of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery and the seller bears the burden of proof. After that you may have to show that the defect stems from delivery and not from your own handling or wear.
Can the seller send me to the manufacturer?
No, the statutory right is against the seller who sold you the goods, and they cannot shift the responsibility onto the manufacturer. You may also turn to whoever has undertaken in a guarantee to remedy the fault, but that comes in addition to the right against the seller, not instead of it.
What can I demand if the goods are faulty?
The remedies are laddered: first you have a right to repair or replacement at no cost, and if that fails you can demand a price reduction or rescind the purchase. Where relevant you can also claim damages, and the seller may offer a repair or new goods before it comes to a reduction or rescission.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “faulty goods rights iceland”
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- “product warranty iceland”