Minnesota Lemon Laws
A new automobile with a recurring problem that limits its value or usability and that the dealer is unable to fix is commonly called a lemon. State lemon laws, therefore, ensure certain protections for consumers when purchasing new automobiles. Essentially, manufacturers and dealers must either replace a lemon or refund the purchase price if it fails to perform to the standards of its warranty for up to a year or two, or a certain number of miles (whichever comes first).
Some states (not including Minnesota) also protect used car purchases, but with different criteria.
Minnesota Lemon Law at a Glance: What is a Lemon?
A lemon, under Minnesota statute, is an automobile that "does not conform to all applicable express warranties, and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer…" within two years. A nonconformity would be any of the following conditions:
- Four (4) or more attempts were made to fix a particular problem; and/or
- The vehicle is out of service for 30 or more (cumulative) business days during the period
The following chart lists additional provisions of Minnesota’s lemon law. See FindLaw’s Lemon Law section for more articles and resources. Car safety recalls follow a different process, even if they may overlap with lemon claims.
| Code Section | 325F.665 |
| Title of Act | Not specified |
| Definition of Defects | Nonconformity to all applicable express warranties which significantly affects the use or market value of vehicle |
| Time Limit for Manufacturer Repair | During term of applicable express warranty or during period of 2 years following date of original delivery of vehicle to consumer, whichever is earlier |
| Remedies | Buyer’s option: Replace with comparable vehicle or accept return and refund to consumer full purchase price including cost of any options or other modifications made/installed/arranged by manufacturer (or agents or dealer) within 30 days of original delivery, and all other charges, less a reasonable allowance for consumer use of vehicle |
Note: State laws are constantly changing, typically through new legislation, higher court decisions, or ballot initiatives — contact a Minnesota lemon law attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Research the Law
- Minnesota Law
- Official State Codes – Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.
Minnesota Lemon Law: Related Resources
- Minnesota Consumer Laws
- How the New Car Lemon Law Can Help You
- Secret Warranties, Recalls, and Lemons
- Car Buying Tools and Resources
- Find a Lemon Law Attorney
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