Michigan’s Lemon Law protects consumers who buy or lease a new vehicle that turns out to be defective and cannot be fixed within a reasonable number of repair attempts.
If the manufacturer cannot repair the defect, they must provide a replacement, refund, or compensation — and they may also be required to pay your legal fees.
Your Rights Under Michigan Lemon Law.
The Michigan Lemon Law ensures that you’re not stuck with a defective new vehicle. If a serious issue persists despite multiple repair attempts, the law gives you the right to demand a remedy.
Options for resolution include:
- Replacement: A new vehicle of similar value and specifications.
- Repurchase: A refund of your purchase price including taxes, registration, and other fees.
- Cash Settlement: Compensation for loss of use, inconvenience, or diminished value.
Legal fees are often recoverable from the manufacturer, making it risk-free to pursue your case.
What Vehicles Are Covered?
Michigan Lemon Law applies to:
- New passenger vehicles, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans purchased or leased in Michigan. Motor homes, buses and larger trucks are excluded by the statute’s own definition (Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.1401(g)).
- Vehicles bought or leased for personal, family, or household purposes.
- Coverage runs from the manufacturer’s express warranty, and repairs that began during that warranty must still be completed even after it expires (§ 257.1403(6)).
Not covered: used vehicles outside a manufacturer-backed warranty, and any defect caused by a modification not made by or for the manufacturer, or by abuse, neglect, or an accident after you bought the vehicle (§ 257.1406).
How to Qualify for Michigan Lemon Law?
To qualify for Michigan Lemon Law, the defect must:
- Substantially impair the use or value of the vehicle, or keep it from conforming to the manufacturer’s express warranty.
- Be first reported either during the manufacturer’s express warranty or within 1 year of delivery to the original owner — whichever comes first (Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.1402).
- Survive a reasonable number of repair attempts. Michigan presumes that standard is met when the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times within 2 years of the first attempt and still exists, or when the vehicle has been out of service 30 or more days during the warranty or the first year, whichever is earlier (§ 257.1403(5)).
- Written notice is required before you can claim the remedy. Michigan is one of the few states that demands it in the statute: send the manufacturer written notice by return receipt mail after the third repair attempt, or once the vehicle has been out of service 25 days. The manufacturer then gets one final chance — 5 business days after you deliver the vehicle to the facility it designates (§ 257.1403(5)).
- If the standard is met, you may demand a refund rather than a replacement, and the manufacturer has 30 days to act. Your refund is reduced by a mileage allowance calculated on the miles driven before you first reported the problem, plus any miles past 25,000 (§ 257.1403(1)–(2)).
Types of Defects Covered by Michigan Lemon Law
Common defects that may qualify under Michigan Lemon Law include:
- Transmission failures or shifting issues
- Engine performance problems or stalling
- Brake malfunctions or noise
- Electrical issues such as battery drain or faulty sensors
- Air conditioning or heating system failures
- Steering or suspension problems
- Persistent warning lights or safety alerts
These issues must occur while the vehicle is under warranty and remain unresolved after dealer repair attempts.
Lemon Law for Used Cars in Michigan
Michigan Lemon Law does not cover used vehicles unless they fall under a certified pre-owned program with an express manufacturer’s warranty.
However, you may still have legal options if:
- The vehicle was misrepresented by the seller or dealer.
- The problem was hidden or not disclosed during the sale.
We offer free evaluations to explore all possible remedies for your used vehicle case.
Why Choose Us?
Michigan Lemon Law Experts: We specialize in local cases and know how to win them.
- No Fee Unless You Win: We only get paid when you do.
- Quick Turnaround: We work fast to get your case resolved.
- Full-Service Legal Support: From documents to negotiations — we do it all.
- Proven Results: We aim to recover full compensation, including penalties where allowed.
No Upfront Fees.
You won’t pay anything upfront. Your agreement explains any costs.