Have you ever purchased a new vehicle only for it to develop serious problems that the dealership couldn’t fix? If you have, you may have purchased what’s known as a “lemon”. A “lemon” is a substandard vehicle, and those who unknowingly purchase lemons are protected under Lemon Law. 

Each state has its own version of Lemon Law protections, and each may provide different sorts of damages for a variety of situations. Minnesota Lemon Law, for instance, provides “special arbitration, refund, and replacement provisions” to those who purchase substandard vehicles, according to the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General. 

What Is Lemon Law?

According to the Center for Auto Safety, lemon laws state that “a manufacturer must provide a refund or replacement for a defective new vehicle that is not repaired within a reasonable number of attempts”. For most states, this means that a refund or replacement must be provided if a substantial defect isn’t repaired after four tries or if a safety defect isn’t repaired after two tries. Lemon law also applies in most cases if the vehicle has been out of service for 30 days within the first year to two years or the first 12-18,000 miles.

What’s Covered Under Minnesota Lemon Law?

According to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, Minnesota Lemon Law covers most new and lightly used vehicles purchased or leased in the state. This includes passenger vehicles as well as pickup trucks and vans. Unlike some other states, Minnesota Lemon Law also covers the “vehicle chassis or van portion of a recreational vehicle (RV)” meaning that if those portions of the RV are found to qualify as a lemon, the whole RV may be replaced.

Minnesota Lemon Law also covers used vehicles that still fall under their original warranty. Vehicles brought under lemon law must be used for personal or family purposes at least 40 percent of the time. In order for a vehicle to be covered, the defect must appear and be reported within the warranty period, or two years, depending on which comes first. There are exceptions made for ongoing problems into the third year.

The Manufacturer’s Duties

One of the more complex portions of Minnesota Lemon Law is the manufacturer’s duties. The Minnesota Office of the Attorney General lists two different duties: the duty to repair and the duty to refund/replace. First, the manufacturer is required to make repairs on a vehicle if those repairs are covered by the warranty and if the problem has been reported within two years or the warranty period. 

Second, the manufacturer must provide refunds or replacements for vehicles with substantial defects. It is these types of vehicles which Minnesota defines as “lemons”. Under Minnesota Lemon Law, if the car can’t be repaired within four attempts, the buyer may go to court to seek a replacement or refund. If the defect results in a complete failure of the steering or braking systems, then only one attempt at repair must be made. Cars that have been out of service for 30 days are also covered. All of these defects must occur within the first two years or before the end of the warranty, whichever comes first.

The Minnesota Lemon Law also states that vehicles that don’t perfectly match the above requirements may be considered lemons in court, but that these cases may be significantly harder to prove.

It’s worth noting that Minnesota Lemon Law does not cover defects which do not substantially impair the market value or use of the vehicle or defects that are caused by “abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications”.

Using Minnesota Lemon Law in Court

Under Minnesota Lemon Law, all car manufacturers must give consumers the option to participate in an arbitration program in the case of a lemon purchase. The arbitration process does not rely on a judge and needn’t apply lemon law in the same way as a court of law.

If you plan on using Minnesota Lemon Law in court, there are several preparations the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General suggests you make first. You will need to keep copies of all documentation covering the order, sale, lease, warranty, repair, and any other relevant documentation. You will need to make sure that the information on these documents is both thorough and correct. You will also need to give written notice to the vehicle manufacturer that there are lasting defects to your vehicle and that you intend to either use the company’s arbitration program or Minnesota Lemon Law in court.

If you intend to sue over your purchase of a lemon, the Attorney General recommends you seek the advice of a Minnesota Lemon Law attorney. If you win, attorney fees may be included in any damages awarded.

Join a Free Lemon Law Defective Vehicle Investigation

You may qualify for this Lemon Law investigation under the following circumstances:

• You purchased your vehicle new;
• Your purchased your vehicle in 2018-2020;
• Your vehicle is still under warranty;
• You have taken your vehicle in for repair several times; and
• It is still having the same problem.

(Note: Residents of North Carolina do not qualify for this investigation.)

See if you qualify by filling out the form on this page for a case evaluation by experienced Lemon Law lawyers or call (877) 289-0615.

Get a Free Case Evaluation