Massachusetts Lemon Law

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• New Motor Vehicle Lemon Law
• Used Motor Vehicle Warranty Law
• Lemon Aid Law
• Customized Wheelchair Lemon Law
• Arbitration Procedures
• Summary
• Request Free Case Evaluation

New Motor Vehicle Lemon Law (M.G.L. c. 90, § 7N1/2)

This statute applies to new motor vehicles with substantial defects that impair use, market value, or safety.

• A defect must remain after three repair attempts or after the vehicle is out of service for 15 or more business days during the warranty period (§ 7N1/2(4)).

• The consumer must provide the manufacturer with a final repair opportunity of up to seven business days (§ 7N1/2(4)).

• State-certified arbitration is available, and arbitration findings are prima facie evidence in later legal actions (§ 7N1/2(6)).

• Manufacturers must provide clear notice of consumer rights under the statute (§ 7N1/2(6A)).

If qualifying defects persist after the required opportunities to repair, the consumer is entitled to a refund or replacement.

Used Motor Vehicle Warranty Law (M.G.L. c. 90, § 7N1/4)

This statute applies to used vehicles sold by dealers and requires an express warranty covering defects that impair use or safety (§ 7N1/4(2)).

• Warranty duration depends on mileage (e.g., 90 days for vehicles with < 40,000 miles) (§ 7N1/4(2)(B)).

• A consumer may obtain a refund if a defect remains after three repair attempts or after the vehicle is out of service for more than ten business days (§ 7N1/4(3)(A)(ii)).

• State-certified arbitration is available (§ 7N1/4(3)(A)(iii)).

Lemon Aid Law (M.G.L. c. 90, § 7N)

Under § 7N:

• A buyer may void the sale of a motor vehicle if it fails inspection within seven days of purchase and repairs would cost more than 10% of the purchase price.
  

Customized Wheelchair Lemon Law (M.G.L. c. 93, § 107)

This statute applies to customized wheelchairs purchased or leased in Massachusetts.

• A refund or replacement is required if a defect persists after four repair attempts, or if the wheelchair is out of service for 30 days within the warranty period (§ 107(C)(2)).

• State-administered arbitration is available (§ 107(D)).

Arbitration Procedures (201 CMR 11.00 and 201 CMR 19.00)

Arbitration procedures governing disputes under the above laws include:

• Arbitrators must issue decisions within 45 days of accepting the arbitration request (201 CMR 11.11(4); 201 CMR 19.11(4)).

• Detailed repair receipts are required from dealers (201 CMR 11.17).

• Defects covered by the manufacturer’s warranty may be excluded from dealer warranty obligations under specific conditions (201 CMR 11.18).

Summary

Massachusetts provides comprehensive protections across several categories:

• New vehicle lemon rights (three repair attempts or 15+ days out of service).

   

• Used vehicle warranty protections (mileage-based warranty durations, refund after three repair attempts or 10+ days out of service).

   

• Lemon Aid immediate-void rights for failed inspections.

   

• Customized wheelchair protections (refund/replacement after four repair attempts or 30 days out of service).

   

• State-certified arbitration with strict timelines for decisions.

   

If you believe your vehicle may qualify as a lemon under Massachusetts law, contact Auto Lemon Lawyer today for help understanding your rights and next steps.