Consumer Protection · Lemon Law
Lemon Law in Minnesota
How many repair attempts and days out of service before Minnesota presumes your vehicle is a lemon, and whether used cars are covered.
presumption trigger (same defect)
Do I meet the Minnesota lemon presumption?
Enter your repairs and downtime. This checks the presumption; it is not a legal verdict.
This checklist is educational, not a legal verdict. Every state writes these numbers as a rebuttable presumption: hitting them shifts the burden to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer can still rebut it. Keep every repair order, send any required written notice, and consult a lawyer about your specific facts. This is legal information, not legal advice.
How the presumption works in Minnesota
The prongs that shift the burden to the manufacturer.
The safety track is narrow and specific: it is not any safety defect but a complete failure of the braking or steering system that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. One repair attempt on that kind of failure triggers the presumption.
Every state, Minnesota included, writes these thresholds as a rebuttable presumption. Reaching them shifts the burden onto the manufacturer to prove your vehicle is not a lemon; it does not mean you automatically win. You may also qualify with fewer attempts if a "reasonable number" of repairs is shown some other way, and the manufacturer can rebut the presumption. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Used cars & leased vehicles
Which of the three coverage categories Minnesota falls in.
| Odometer at sale | Minimum dealer warranty |
|---|---|
| Less than 36,000 miles | 60 days or 2,500 miles |
| 36,000 up to 75,000 miles | 30 days or 1,000 miles |
| 75,000 up to 200,000 miles | 15 days or 500 miles |
| 200,000 miles or more | Not covered |
The full picture, with the source
Every figure, and where it comes from.
| Same-defect attempts | 4 |
| Serious-safety attempts | 1 |
| Days out of service | 30 business days |
| Coverage window | Earlier of warranty expiration or 2 years from delivery (no mileage cap) |
| Used cars | Used-car lemon law |
| Leased vehicles | Covered |
| Statute | Minn. Stat. §325F.665 |
What Minnesota car buyers get wrong
Minnesota runs its new-car presumption on the usual two tracks, 4 repair attempts on the same defect or 30 business days out of service, but its safety track is tighter than most people expect. Under §325F.665 a single repair attempt triggers the presumption only for a complete failure of the braking or steering system that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, not for any defect that feels dangerous. The presumption period is the earlier of the warranty term or 2 years from delivery, with no mileage cap, and a defect first reported inside that window can be pursued for up to 3 years. Minnesota also carries a separate used-car statute, §325F.662, that makes dealers give a written warranty on qualifying used vehicles, with the term shrinking as mileage climbs. As everywhere, meeting these numbers shifts the burden to the manufacturer rather than deciding the case.
Common questions
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Minnesota?
Minnesota presumes a lemon after 4 attempts on the same defect, or 30 business days out of service, within 2 years or the warranty term. A single attempt is enough only for a complete braking or steering failure that could cause death or serious injury. These are presumption triggers, not an automatic win.
What counts as a safety defect under the Minnesota lemon law?
The one-attempt safety track is narrow. It applies to a complete failure of the braking or steering system that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven. Other defects, even serious ones, fall under the standard 4-attempt or 30-day test.
Does Minnesota have a used-car lemon law?
Minnesota has a separate used-car statute, §325F.662, that requires dealers to give a written warranty on qualifying used vehicles. The term steps down by mileage, from 60 days or 2,500 miles under 36,000 miles to 15 days or 500 miles near 200,000 miles. Cars at or above 200,000 miles, priced under $3,000, over eight years old, or with a salvage title are not covered.
Are the days out of service counted as business days in Minnesota?
Yes. The 30-day out-of-service track counts 30 or more business days, not calendar days, so weekends and holidays do not add up against you.
Are leased vehicles covered by the Minnesota lemon law?
Yes. Lessees have the same rights as buyers under the new-car law. Replacement is not offered to lessees; instead the remedy is a refund of lease payments plus early termination costs, subject to the statutory limits.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.