Minnesota Lemon Law (MN)

Qualifying Criteria in Minnesota

Under Minnesota's lemon law, your vehicle may qualify as a lemon if it meets the following criteria:

• Vehicle type: New motor vehicles purchased or leased in Minnesota
• Defect type: A nonconformity that substantially impairs the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle and is covered under the manufacturer's warranty
• Coverage period: The defect must occur within 2 years of delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first
• Repair attempts: The manufacturer or authorized dealer must have attempted to repair the same defect at least 4 times, or the vehicle must have been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days

Manufacturer Obligations

Must repair the nonconformity. If unable after a reasonable number of attempts, consumer may request replacement or refund through arbitration.

Available Remedies

If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Minnesota law, you are entitled to:

• Replacement vehicle
• Full refund minus reasonable use allowance
• Attorney fees if consumer prevails in court

The "reasonable use allowance" deduction is typically calculated based on the mileage you accumulated before the first repair attempt, proportional to the vehicle's expected lifetime mileage. This ensures the manufacturer is not paying for use you already received from the vehicle.

Step-by-Step Filing Process in Minnesota

Follow these steps if you believe your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Minnesota law:

1. 1 Report the defect to the authorized dealer or manufacturer
2. 2 Allow at least 4 repair attempts for the same defect or 30+ business days out of service, or 1 attempt for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
3. 3 Notify the manufacturer in writing
4. 4 Use the manufacturer's arbitration or the state's arbitration program
5. 5 File suit in district court if arbitration is unsatisfactory

Arbitration in Minnesota

Consumer must use the manufacturer's informal dispute resolution program (if certified) or may proceed to the state-administered arbitration program through the Attorney General's office.

Important: In Minnesota, arbitration is a required step before you can file a lawsuit. This means you must exhaust the arbitration process first. The arbitration decision may or may not be binding depending on the specific program. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you typically have the right to appeal or file a civil action in court.

Filing Deadline

Within 2 years from original delivery or the warranty period.

Missing the filing deadline can forfeit your rights under the lemon law. Keep detailed records of every repair visit, including dates, mileage, descriptions of the problem, and copies of all repair orders and receipts. This documentation will be critical for your claim.

Additional Notes

Minnesota offers both manufacturer and state-run arbitration options. Only 1 repair attempt needed for life-threatening defects. Consumer may recover attorney fees if prevailing in court.