Get Compensation for Your Defective Vehicle
Maine’s Lemon Law protects consumers who purchase defective vehicles by ensuring they are entitled to a refund or replacement.
“Lemon Law protects owners and lessees of vehicles with persistent defects.” –– Joseph Novel, Esq.
founding attorney
Full refund, incl. taxes, fees, & remaining loan balance.
You’ll receive a new car of equal value.
Under the Minnesota Lemon Law, your vehicle may qualify if it has a defect that substantially impairs its use or market value and the manufacturer or dealer is unable to fix it after a reasonable number of attempts. The nonconformity must be reported during the applicable express warranty period or within two years of the original delivery date, whichever comes first. If your new car has been in and out of the shop with no real fix in sight, the Minnesota Lemon Law gives you the right to demand more than just another repair appointment.
Under Minnesota Lemon Law Subd. 3, a reasonable number of attempts is presumed if the same defect has been repaired four or more times without being resolved, or if your vehicle has been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more business days during the warranty period or within two years of delivery. There is an important exception for serious safety defects: if the nonconformity causes a complete failure of the braking or steering system and could cause death or serious injury, just one failed repair attempt is enough to trigger your rights under the Minnesota Lemon Law. If your car keeps failing, do not wait to take action.
If your vehicle qualifies, the Minnesota Lemon Law entitles you to either a full refund or a comparable replacement vehicle. A refund covers the full purchase price including options, taxes, license fees, registration fees, and reimbursement for towing and rental expenses, minus a reasonable allowance for use capped at 10 cents per mile or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less. You also have the right to reject the manufacturer’s replacement offer and demand a refund instead, so the Minnesota Lemon Law keeps you firmly in control of the outcome.
Yes, Minnesota has a separate used car Lemon Law that offers real protections for used vehicle buyers. It applies to cars, pickup trucks, and vans that cost more than $3,000, are less than eight years old, and have fewer than 75,000 miles on them at the time of sale, provided the vehicle has not been previously salvaged. Dealers are required to provide a warranty and must repair or replace defective parts, or refund the purchase price, and attorneys’ fees are paid by the losing party. If you bought a used vehicle from a dealer in Minnesota, the Minnesota Lemon Law may still have you covered.
Absolutely, and it is one of the best steps you can take. The Minnesota Lemon Law requires consumers to go through an informal dispute settlement process before filing a civil action, and missing that step or making errors in your documentation can hurt your case. If you win, you may recover costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees, which means legal help often comes at no out-of-pocket cost to you. A Minnesota Lemon Law attorney can guide you through every step and make sure you get the full relief you are entitled to.
