Minnesota Lemon Law

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• Manufacturer’s Duty to Repair
• Replacement or Refund
• Notice and Opportunity to Cure
• Disclosure Requirements
• Informal Dispute Settlement Mechanism
• Civil Remedies
• Title Branding
• Summary
• Request Free Case Evaluation

Manufacturer’s Duty to Repair (M.S.A. § 325F.665, Subd. 2)

If a defect or condition substantially impairs the use or market value of the vehicle and cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must provide one of the following:

• Replacement with a comparable new vehicle, or

• Refund of the full purchase price, including taxes and fees, minus a reasonable allowance for use.

A reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed if:

• The same defect has been repaired four or more times, or

• The vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more business days due to repairs (Subd. 3(b)).

Replacement or Refund (M.S.A. § 325F.665, Subd. 3(a))

If a defect is reported within the applicable period, the manufacturer or dealer must repair the defect at no charge. This obligation applies even if repairs continue after the warranty expires, as long as the initial report was timely.

Notice and Opportunity to Cure (M.S.A. § 325F.665, Subd. 3(e))

If a defect remains after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the manufacturer must provide one of the following:

• Replacement: A comparable new vehicle, or
  
• Refund: The purchase price minus a reasonable allowance for use.
  

For leased vehicles, the consumer may receive a refund of the lease price or accept a replacement vehicle (MCL 257.1403(1)(b)).

Disclosure Requirements (M.S.A. § 325F.665, Subd. 5)

If a vehicle is returned under the lemon law and later resold or re-leased, the manufacturer must ensure:

• The vehicle carries a warranty, and
• A written disclosure is provided stating that the vehicle was previously returned due to defects.

Informal Dispute Settlement Mechanism (M.S.A. § 325F.665, Subd. 6)

Manufacturers must operate or participate in an informal dispute settlement mechanism that complies with federal regulations. Consumers must use this process before pursuing a civil action unless the manufacturer waives the requirement.

Civil Remedies (M.S.A. § 325F.665, Subd. 9)

A consumer injured by a violation of the lemon law may bring a civil action to enforce their rights and may recover costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees.

Title Branding (M.S.A. § 325F.665, Subd. 14)

Consumers may be required to arbitrate disputes before litigation. Courts or arbitration panels may modify the mileage deduction if fairness requires it due to the vehicle’s unreliability.

Summary

Minnesota’s lemon law provides:

• Strong repair obligations during the warranty term or two years.

   

• Refund or replacement when substantial defects persist.

   

• Presumptions based on repair attempts or days out of service.

   

• Mandatory written notice and an opportunity to cure.

   

• Required use of a certified dispute program.

   

• Title branding and resale disclosure rules.

   

If you think your vehicle may qualify as a lemon, contact The Auto Lemon Lawyer today to discuss your rights and options.