Minnesota lemon laws apply to new motor vehicles, including passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, vans, and the motor vehicle chassis or van portion of a recreational vehicle (the living areas are not included). The vehicle must have been purchased or leased in Minnesota and be covered under a warranty.

An important thing to know about Minnesota is that although used cars don’t fall under the lemon law, Minnesota has some of the strongest used car laws in the country.

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What is a lemon law?

Lemon laws

are federal and state laws that protect consumers who have unknowingly purchased damaged items—especially defective vehicles. The specifics of lemon laws vary from state to state, but they all help compensate buyers who purchase vehicles that don’t meet basic quality and performance standards.

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Minnesota car insurance laws—all you need to know

Is there a lemon law in Minnesota?

Yes, Minnesota's lemon law applies to new motor vehicles, including passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, vans, and the motor vehicle chassis or van portion of a recreational vehicle. The living areas of an RV are not included.

The vehicle in question must have been purchased or leased (as long as the lease term is longer than four months) in Minnesota and must be used for personal or household purposes at least 40% of the time. It also must be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Key Takeaway Minnesota’s lemon law applies to new passenger vehicles that were purchased in Minnesota and still under warranty.

Is my defect covered under the lemon law?

Minnesota’s lemon law covers nonconformities—defects that do not conform to the warranty and impact the use or market value of the car.

If the car has problems that stem from neglect, abuse, or misuse on the part of the car owner, it won’t be covered under the lemon law.

Are used cars covered under the lemon law?

No, used cars are not covered under Minnesota’s lemon law.

But while Minnesota doesn’t have a lemon law for used cars, the state does have some of the strongest used car warranty laws in the country. They will protect you if you buy a used car from a dealer and the car wasn’t purchased "as is." The laws do not cover private car sales.

What about new cars?

Yes, Minnesota's lemon law applies to new vehicles including passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans, and the motor vehicle chassis or van portion of a recreational vehicle. The living areas of an RV are not covered.

The vehicle must have been purchased or leased (for more than four months) in Minnesota and must still be under warranty.

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How to check if a used car is a lemon

How to pursue your lemon law rights in Minnesota

If you want to pursue your lemon law rights in Minnesota, you’ll need to notify the manufacturer, take your car in for repairs, and maybe even pursue legal action.

Repairs and reports

For the lemon law to be used in Minnesota, you must notify the manufacturer about the defect (which must be covered under the warranty) within the first two years of the delivery of the vehicle or the duration of the warranty, whichever comes first.

In most situations, the manufacturer has four attempts to try to repair the vehicle. If the defect could cause serious injury or death, such as with steering or brake failures, the manufacturer is only entitled to one repair attempt.

The law also applies if the vehicle cannot be used or is under repair for a cumulative 30 business days. The initial defect needs to occur within the warranty or in the first two years, but the manufacturer is allowed repair attempts until the end of the third year.

If all attempts to repair the issue fail, you must write to the manufacturer to advise that the car is a lemon and you would like it repaired or replaced under the lemon law. The manufacturer is then allowed one final attempt to fix the defect.

Be sure to keep all receipts and invoices from the repair attempts. You may need them if you decide to pursue your claim in court.

Arbitration

Depending on the manufacturer, you might need to try arbitration before using the lemon law. Resolving the dispute in arbitration is ideal because it’s free and much faster than going to court.

If you can settle the matter in arbitration, you’ll be able to choose whether you want a replacement vehicle or a refund.

Taking legal action

If you’re still having trouble with the manufacturer after arbitration, you can file a lawsuit. It’s a good idea to hire an attorney for this, since it’s a complex legal process and even a small misstep can affect the strength of your case. If you win, the manufacturer will likely have to pay your legal fees.

Remember that no matter how good your case is, there’s always a chance that you won’t win. There are many factors at play and each situation is different.

Key Takeaway Bring vehicle defects to the attention of the manufacturer right away and then keep all repair documentation, since you’ll need it if you decide to take your case to court.

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Lemon law tips

If you’re thinking about pursuing a lemon law case, keep the following things in mind:

Any unauthorized modifications to your car or damage due to your own neglect, abuse, or misuse will not be covered under the lemon law

When you take your car in for repairs, go to an authorized manufacturer or dealership and keep copies of all of your receipts and invoices

Use the same language each time you take your car to the shop—most lemon laws only apply to a single problem that needs to be fixed more than once, so your words matter

If Minnesota’s lemon law doesn’t apply to your case, look into the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

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