Michigan · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
Michigan Lemon Law (new motor vehicle warranties), 1986 PA 87 (Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 257.1401–257.1410) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Michigan, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
Your vehicle is presumed a lemon if the same defect that substantially impairs its use or value has been repaired 4 or more times within 2 years of the first repair attempt and still exists, or if it has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more days (or parts of days), for any defects, during the warranty or the first year after delivery, whichever is earlier. Before you get a remedy, the manufacturer gets one final chance: after you send written notice, it names a reasonably accessible repair facility and has 5 business days after the vehicle is delivered there to fix it.
Period: You must first report the defect to the manufacturer or a dealer during the manufacturer's express warranty or within 1 year of delivery to the original buyer, whichever ends first. Repairs reported in time must be made even after the warranty expires.
Before claiming a refund or replacement, send the manufacturer written notice of the need for repair by return receipt service (e.g. certified mail, return receipt). You can send it any time after the third repair attempt for the same defect, or after the vehicle has been out of service for at least 25 days. The manufacturer must then tell you which repair facility to use and gets 5 business days to fix the vehicle.
If the manufacturer runs or takes part in an informal dispute program that meets federal rules (such as BBB AUTO LINE), you must use it first. Its decision binds the manufacturer only if you accept it, and you can still sue. Michigan has no state-run lemon arbitration.
Within 30 days the manufacturer must, for a purchase, either replace the vehicle with a comparable one currently in production and acceptable to you or refund the purchase price (you may demand a refund). For a lease, you get a refund of the lease price paid, or a replacement if you agree. The price includes the vehicle sales price, cash paid, trade-in allowance, manufacturer-installed options, other manufacturer charges, sales tax, license, registration and similar government fees (minus manufacturer rebates and incentives). Deductions: damage beyond normal use, and a use allowance = price × (miles before your first defect report + miles beyond 25,000) ÷ 100,000. You also get towing and rental-car costs caused by the defect if they were not provided free. A lessor cannot charge an early-termination fee.
Attorney fees: Yes. A court may award a consumer who wins costs and expenses, including attorney fees based on actual time spent, unless it finds such an award inappropriate (MCL 257.1407(2)).
Michigan has no used-car lemon law. The Attorney General says the Lemon Law can still apply to a used vehicle that is covered by the manufacturer's express warranty if the problem is reported within 1 year of delivery to the original buyer.
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. Before claiming a refund or replacement, send the manufacturer written notice of the need for repair by return receipt service (e.g. certified mail, return receipt). You can send it any time after the third repair attempt for the same defect, or after the vehicle has been out of service for at least 25 days. The manufacturer must then tell you which repair facility to use and gets 5 business days to fix the vehicle. Fill this in, copy the letter, sign it and send it by certified mail with return receipt. Keep a copy. Nothing you type here is sent to us; the letter is made in your browser.
Your vehicle is presumed a lemon if the same defect that substantially impairs its use or value has been repaired 4 or more times within 2 years of the first repair attempt and still exists, or if it has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more days (or parts of days), for any defects, during the warranty or the first year after delivery, whichever is earlier. Before you get a remedy, the manufacturer gets one final chance: after you send written notice, it names a reasonably accessible repair facility and has 5 business days after the vehicle is delivered there to fix it.
You must first report the defect to the manufacturer or a dealer during the manufacturer's express warranty or within 1 year of delivery to the original buyer, whichever ends first. Repairs reported in time must be made even after the warranty expires.
Before claiming a refund or replacement, send the manufacturer written notice of the need for repair by return receipt service (e.g. certified mail, return receipt). You can send it any time after the third repair attempt for the same defect, or after the vehicle has been out of service for at least 25 days. The manufacturer must then tell you which repair facility to use and gets 5 business days to fix the vehicle.
If the manufacturer runs or takes part in an informal dispute program that meets federal rules (such as BBB AUTO LINE), you must use it first. Its decision binds the manufacturer only if you accept it, and you can still sue. Michigan has no state-run lemon arbitration.
Within 30 days the manufacturer must, for a purchase, either replace the vehicle with a comparable one currently in production and acceptable to you or refund the purchase price (you may demand a refund). For a lease, you get a refund of the lease price paid, or a replacement if you agree. The price includes the vehicle sales price, cash paid, trade-in allowance, manufacturer-installed options, other manufacturer charges, sales tax, license, registration and similar government fees (minus manufacturer rebates and incentives). Deductions: damage beyond normal use, and a use allowance = price × (miles before your first defect report + miles beyond 25,000) ÷ 100,000. You also get towing and rental-car costs caused by the defect if they were not provided free. A lessor cannot charge an early-termination fee.
Michigan has no used-car lemon law. The Attorney General says the Lemon Law can still apply to a used vehicle that is covered by the manufacturer's express warranty if the problem is reported within 1 year of delivery to the original buyer.
Car not covered, or the period has passed? Federal warranty law may still help, and small claims court can handle smaller repair bills.
Federal warranty law