Tennessee · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
Tennessee Lemon Law (Motor Vehicle Warranties) (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-24-101 to 55-24-112) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Tennessee, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
According to the Attorney General, your vehicle may be a lemon if it has a defect that makes it unreliable or unsafe for normal use and the manufacturer or dealer cannot fix it after three attempts, or it is out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more days.
Period: The Attorney General's summary refers to defects reported in the first year after original delivery or during the manufacturer's express warranty. The official statute text is not freely available online, so check with the Attorney General's office.
According to the Attorney General, before you can get a refund you must notify the manufacturer of the problem in writing by certified mail.
We found no state-run lemon law arbitration program on official Tennessee sites. Check your warranty for a manufacturer's dispute program.
According to the Attorney General, you may be entitled to return the vehicle and receive a refund of the full purchase price. Replacement options and use deductions could not be confirmed from the statute text.
Deadline: According to the Attorney General, lawsuits must be brought within 6 months after one year from original delivery or the end of the express warranty, whichever is later (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-24-101 to -112; exact section not confirmed).
Tennessee's lemon law does not cover used vehicle purchases, according to the state's Consumer Affairs help article (Tennessee Commerce & Insurance help center, 'Lemon Law').
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. According to the Attorney General, before you can get a refund you must notify the manufacturer of the problem in writing 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.
According to the Attorney General, your vehicle may be a lemon if it has a defect that makes it unreliable or unsafe for normal use and the manufacturer or dealer cannot fix it after three attempts, or it is out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more days.
The Attorney General's summary refers to defects reported in the first year after original delivery or during the manufacturer's express warranty. The official statute text is not freely available online, so check with the Attorney General's office.
According to the Attorney General, before you can get a refund you must notify the manufacturer of the problem in writing by certified mail.
We found no state-run lemon law arbitration program on official Tennessee sites. Check your warranty for a manufacturer's dispute program.
According to the Attorney General, you may be entitled to return the vehicle and receive a refund of the full purchase price. Replacement options and use deductions could not be confirmed from the statute text.
According to the Attorney General, lawsuits must be brought within 6 months after one year from original delivery or the end of the express warranty, whichever is later (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-24-101 to -112; exact section not confirmed).
Tennessee's lemon law does not cover used vehicle purchases, according to the state's Consumer Affairs help article (Tennessee Commerce & Insurance help center, 'Lemon Law').
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 lawLast checked: Oct 2026.
Law: Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-24-101 to 55-24-112