Minnesota · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
Minnesota Lemon Law (New Motor Vehicle Warranties) (Minn. Stat. § 325F.665) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Minnesota, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
Within the warranty or 2 years (whichever is earlier), your vehicle is presumed a lemon if the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and still exists; if it has been out of service for repair for a total of 30 or more business days; or if a complete failure of the brakes or steering, likely to cause death or serious injury, has been repaired once and still exists. The 4-attempt and 30-day presumptions apply only if you notified the manufacturer, its agent or dealer in writing at least once and gave it a chance to fix the defect.
Period: You must report the defect during the manufacturer's warranty or within 2 years of original delivery, whichever comes first. If you reported it in time, repair attempts up to 3 years after delivery can still count toward a lemon claim.
You must give written notice of the defect to the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized dealer at least once and give it a chance to fix it. The Attorney General recommends certified mail, return receipt requested, stating that the car is a lemon and that you want a refund or replacement under Minn. Stat. § 325F.665; if you write to the dealer, send a copy to the manufacturer. A dealer that receives the notice must forward it to the manufacturer by certified mail.
Every manufacturer must offer an arbitration program located in Minnesota, and you must use it before suing for a refund or replacement unless the manufacturer lets you skip it. The fee can be no more than the county conciliation court filing fee, the decision does not bind you unless you agree, and you can go to district court afterward.
The manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a comparable one or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including the trade-in value, options added by the manufacturer or dealer within 30 days of delivery, sales or excise tax, license and registration fees, and towing and rental costs from warranty repairs. You can reject a replacement and take the refund. The use deduction cannot exceed the lesser of 10 cents per mile or 10% of the purchase price. Lessees get a refund of what they actually paid on the lease (no replacement), minus the same use allowance.
Attorney fees: Yes. A consumer who sues to enforce the law can recover costs and reasonable attorney fees (Minn. Stat. § 325F.665, subd. 9); fees for arbitration are not recoverable, according to the Attorney General.
Deadline: You must sue within 3 years of original delivery; if you applied to the manufacturer's arbitration program within those 3 years and are unhappy with the decision, you must sue within 6 months after the final arbitration decision (Minn. Stat. § 325F.665, subd. 10).
Yes. Minnesota's used car warranty law (Minn. Stat. § 325F.662) requires dealers to warrant key parts on most used cars: 60 days/2,500 miles under 36,000 miles; 30 days/1,000 miles for 36,000–74,999; 15 days/500 miles for 75,000–199,999 (with exceptions). The lemon law itself also covers used cars still under the original manufacturer's warranty.
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. You must give written notice of the defect to the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized dealer at least once and give it a chance to fix it. The Attorney General recommends certified mail, return receipt requested, stating that the car is a lemon and that you want a refund or replacement under Minn. Stat. § 325F.665; if you write to the dealer, send a copy to the manufacturer. A dealer that receives the notice must forward it to the manufacturer by certified mail. 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.
Within the warranty or 2 years (whichever is earlier), your vehicle is presumed a lemon if the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and still exists; if it has been out of service for repair for a total of 30 or more business days; or if a complete failure of the brakes or steering, likely to cause death or serious injury, has been repaired once and still exists. The 4-attempt and 30-day presumptions apply only if you notified the manufacturer, its agent or dealer in writing at least once and gave it a chance to fix the defect.
You must report the defect during the manufacturer's warranty or within 2 years of original delivery, whichever comes first. If you reported it in time, repair attempts up to 3 years after delivery can still count toward a lemon claim.
You must give written notice of the defect to the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized dealer at least once and give it a chance to fix it. The Attorney General recommends certified mail, return receipt requested, stating that the car is a lemon and that you want a refund or replacement under Minn. Stat. § 325F.665; if you write to the dealer, send a copy to the manufacturer. A dealer that receives the notice must forward it to the manufacturer by certified mail.
Every manufacturer must offer an arbitration program located in Minnesota, and you must use it before suing for a refund or replacement unless the manufacturer lets you skip it. The fee can be no more than the county conciliation court filing fee, the decision does not bind you unless you agree, and you can go to district court afterward.
The manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a comparable one or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including the trade-in value, options added by the manufacturer or dealer within 30 days of delivery, sales or excise tax, license and registration fees, and towing and rental costs from warranty repairs. You can reject a replacement and take the refund. The use deduction cannot exceed the lesser of 10 cents per mile or 10% of the purchase price. Lessees get a refund of what they actually paid on the lease (no replacement), minus the same use allowance.
You must sue within 3 years of original delivery; if you applied to the manufacturer's arbitration program within those 3 years and are unhappy with the decision, you must sue within 6 months after the final arbitration decision (Minn. Stat. § 325F.665, subd. 10).
Yes. Minnesota's used car warranty law (Minn. Stat. § 325F.662) requires dealers to warrant key parts on most used cars: 60 days/2,500 miles under 36,000 miles; 30 days/1,000 miles for 36,000–74,999; 15 days/500 miles for 75,000–199,999 (with exceptions). The lemon law itself also covers used cars still under the original manufacturer's warranty.
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