States
Minnesota lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What Minn. Stat. § 325F.665 asks before a manufacturer must repurchase or replace a car, the steps on the way and the last day to act.
Does your car meet the Minnesota lemon law tests?
Minnesota, November 5, 2026 read in the statute
Not yet: one more repair attempt
| Protection period | 2 years or the warranty term, whichever ends first: until January 5, 2028. You are inside it. |
| Repair attempts, same defect | Not met: needs 4, you have 3 |
| Serious safety defect | Not met: needs 1 attempt, you have no safety defect |
| Days out of service | Not met: needs 30 business days, you have 12 |
| Also | The 1-attempt test applies to a complete failure of the braking or steering system. |
| Notice | Written notice to the manufacturer at least once and an opportunity to cure (subd. 3(e)). |
| Dispute step | The manufacturer must offer a dispute mechanism in Minnesota, and you must use it before suing (subd. 6). |
| File a lawsuit by January 5, 2029 (792 days left) | Lawsuit within 3 years of delivery, or 6 months after the mechanism’s decision if you applied within 3 years (subd. 10). |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. Minn. Stat. § 325F.665
The Minnesota lemon law in detailMinnesota’s lemon law, section 325F.665 of the Minnesota Statutes, read on the revisor’s site on November 1, 2026, covers cars, pickups, vans and the chassis of recreational vehicles during the warranty term or two years from delivery, whichever ends first. The presumption applies after four repairs of the same defect, after one repair attempt for a complete failure of the braking or steering system likely to cause death or serious injury, or after a cumulative 30 business days out of service; the owner must also have notified the manufacturer in writing at least once and given it a chance to cure. A manufacturer’s dispute mechanism, which it must offer in Minnesota, comes before any lawsuit. An action must be brought within three years of delivery, or six months after the mechanism’s decision.
When is the last day to act?
File a lawsuit, Minnesota
September 5, 2028
| Days from today | 670 left |
| Rule: Lawsuit within 3 years of delivery, or 6 months after the mechanism’s decision if you applied within 3 years (subd. 10). | |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Who counts as a consumer in Minnesota
Minnesota’s text reaches lessees whose lease runs longer than four months, and vehicles used for personal purposes at least 40 percent of the time. A family car also used for work is covered; a pure fleet vehicle is not.
The six-month extension after a mechanism decision protects owners who used the program in good time: as long as the application reached the mechanism within the three years, the lawsuit can follow its decision. The Attorney General publishes a Minnesota lemon law guide that walks through the forms, and the statute is linked below.
The Minnesota lemon law at a glance
| Law | Minn. Stat. § 325F.665 |
| Protection period | 2 years or the warranty term, whichever ends first |
| Repair attempts | 4 attempts on the same defect |
| Serious safety defect | 1 attempt for a serious safety defect |
| Days out of service | 30 business days |
| Also | The 1-attempt test applies to a complete failure of the braking or steering system. |
| Written notice | Written notice to the manufacturer at least once and an opportunity to cure (subd. 3(e)). |
| Dispute step | Manufacturer program first. The manufacturer must offer a dispute mechanism in Minnesota, and you must use it before suing (subd. 6). |
| Deadline | Lawsuit within 3 years of delivery, or 6 months after the mechanism’s decision if you applied within 3 years (subd. 10). |
| Use offset in a buyback | No formula in the text we read |
| Vehicles covered | Cars, pickups, vans, RV chassis; lessees over 4 months; personal use at least 40% of the time. |
| Used cars | Not covered. |
| State page | no agency page |
| Level of reading | read in the statute |
From written notice to a decision
Certified mail, return receipt requested.
Earliest decisionbetween Oct 16, 2026 and Nov 25, 2026
1. Done · milestone
Written notice reaches the manufacturer
Oct 16, 2026
Written notice to the manufacturer at least once and an opportunity to cure (subd. 3(e)).
Minn. Stat. § 325F.6652. Done · milestone
Final repair attempt
Oct 16, 2026
No fixed number of days for this step in the Minnesota text we read.
3. In progress · 0 day – 6 weeks
Dispute program decides
Oct 16, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026
A program that follows 16 CFR Part 703 must decide within 40 days of receiving your dispute. The manufacturer must offer a dispute mechanism in Minnesota, and you must use it before suing (subd. 6).
16 CFR 703.5(d)4. Upcoming · milestone
Accept, refuse or go further
Oct 16, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026
Lawsuit within 3 years of delivery, or 6 months after the mechanism’s decision if you applied within 3 years (subd. 10).