Michigan Lemon Law rules at a glance
The Michigan Lemon Law (New Motor Vehicle Warranties Act) is Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 257.1401–257.1410.
| Rule | What Michigan law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 257.1401–257.1410 | MCL 257.1401 |
| Vehicles covered | Passenger vehicles, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans bought or leased in Michigan, or by a Michigan resident; Vehicles with a manufacturer’s express warranty at the time of purchase or lease | |
| Not covered | Motor homes, buses and trucks other than pickups and vans; Motorcycles and off-road vehicles; Defects caused by modifications not made by or for the manufacturer, abuse, neglect or accident damage | |
| Protection window | Report the defect within the warranty or 1 year from delivery, whichever is earlier; repairs then count for 2 years from the first repair | MCL 257.1402, 257.1403(5) |
| Four Repairs Test | The same defect was repaired 4 or more times within 2 years of the first repair attempt and continues; written notice and a final repair chance are required | MCL 257.1403(5)(a) |
| 30 Days Out of Service Test | Out of service for repair 30 or more days during the warranty or the first year, whichever comes first; written notice is required | MCL 257.1403(5)(b) |
| Written notice | Send the manufacturer written notice by return receipt service any time after the third repair attempt or after 25 days out of service. The manufacturer names an accessible repair facility and then has 5 business days to repair the vehicle. | MCL 257.1403(5) |
| Dispute program first? | If the manufacturer runs an informal dispute program that complies with FTC Rule 703 and binds the manufacturer when you accept the decision, you must use it first (MCL 257.1405). | |
| Deadline | Michigan’s Lemon Law act does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits for warranty claims still apply, so act promptly and ask a Michigan attorney about your date | MCL 257.1401–257.1410 |
| Usage deduction | price × (miles before the first report + all miles beyond 25,000) ÷ 100,000 | MCL 257.1403(2) |
Does your car qualify under the Michigan Lemon Law?
Michigan law presumes a reasonable number of attempts in two cases, as long as you first reported the defect within the warranty or the first year:
Four Repairs Test
The same defect was repaired 4 or more times within 2 years of the first repair attempt and continues; written notice and a final repair chance are required.
MCL 257.1403(5)(a)30 Days Out of Service Test
Out of service for repair 30 or more days during the warranty or the first year, whichever comes first; written notice is required.
MCL 257.1403(5)(b)The four repairs do not all have to happen in the first year. They must happen within 2 years of the first repair attempt, and the first report must fall inside the warranty or the first year.
Notice to the manufacturer in Michigan
Send the manufacturer written notice by return receipt service any time after the third repair attempt or after 25 days out of service. The manufacturer names an accessible repair facility and then has 5 business days to repair the vehicle.
In Michigan the remedy needs written notice to the manufacturer, sent by return receipt after the third repair or 25 days out of service, and a final repair chance of 5 business days.
Dispute program first. If the manufacturer runs an informal dispute program that complies with FTC Rule 703 and binds the manufacturer when you accept the decision, you must use it first (MCL 257.1405).
The Attorney General adds that if the manufacturer has a qualifying dispute program, the Lemon Law does not apply until you use it, and the program must bind the manufacturer to a decision you accept.
What is the Michigan lemon law deadline?
Michigan’s Lemon Law act does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits for warranty claims still apply, so act promptly and ask a Michigan attorney about your date (MCL 257.1401–257.1410).
| Event | Date | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle delivered | Mar 15, 2025 | The protection window starts |
| Protection window ends | March 15, 2026 | Repairs after this date do not count toward the tests |
| Filing deadline | The Lemon Law act sets none; see below | Michigan’s Lemon Law act does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits for warranty claims still apply, so act promptly and ask a Michigan attorney about your date |
Because the act names no deadline, owners sometimes assume they can wait. Do not: other legal time limits for warranty claims still run, and evidence gets harder to gather.
How to file a Michigan lemon law claim
- Report the defect in timeTo the manufacturer or a new-vehicle dealer during the warranty or within 1 year of delivery, whichever is earlier.
- Keep every repair orderRepairs for the same defect count for 2 years after the first attempt.
- Send return-receipt noticeAfter the third repair or 25 days out of service. Say the vehicle needs to be fixed and keep the receipt.
- Allow the final repairThe manufacturer names an accessible facility and has 5 business days once it has the vehicle.
- Use a qualifying dispute program, then courtIf the program complies with FTC Rule 703 you must use it first. If it fails, sue; the court may award attorney fees.
Refund, replacement and the Michigan deduction for use
| Remedy | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Refund | The purchase price, including manufacturer-installed options and other manufacturer charges, minus a reasonable allowance for use and any appraised damage beyond normal use. You have the right to demand a refund instead of a replacement. |
| Replacement | A comparable replacement vehicle that is currently in production and acceptable to you. |
| Towing and rental | Reasonable towing and comparable rental costs caused by the defect, if they were not provided free. |
| Attorney fees | A consumer who wins in court may recover costs and attorney fees, at the court’s discretion (MCL 257.1407). |
How the Michigan deduction for use is calculated
price × (miles before the first report + all miles beyond 25,000) ÷ 100,000 (MCL 257.1403(2)).
| Step | Math | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | — | $36,000.00 |
| Deduction for use | (6,000 miles before the first report + 0 miles beyond 25,000) × $36,000 ÷ 100,000 | −$2,160.00 |
| Refund before taxes, fees and other charges | Those are added under the rules above | $33,840.00 |
Michigan’s two clocks: reporting and repairs
Michigan separates when you report from when repairs count. Here is how the engine behind our checker applies that to a real history: a vehicle delivered March 15, 2025, with a 3-year warranty, first repaired for a transmission shudder in January 2026.
| Repair | Date | Counts? |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (first report, inside the first year) | Jan 10, 2026 | Yes, it starts the 2-year repair period |
| 2nd | May 2, 2026 | Yes |
| 3rd | Oct 20, 2026 | Yes, even though the first year has ended |
| 4th | Mar 1, 2027 | Yes: four repairs within 2 years of the first |
In most states the fourth repair here would be too late. In Michigan it counts, because the defect was first reported inside the first year.
How Michigan’s refund deduction works
Michigan counts two kinds of miles against you: the miles before your first report of the defect, and every mile beyond 25,000. Miles driven between the first report and 25,000 are not deducted.
| Part | Math | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Miles before first report | 9,000 × $40,000 ÷ 100,000 | −$3,600.00 |
| Miles beyond 25,000 | 5,000 × $40,000 ÷ 100,000 | −$2,000.00 |
| Purchase price minus deduction | $40,000 − $5,600 | $34,400.00 |
A court or dispute program can reduce the deduction for miles beyond 25,000 if you show the vehicle did not provide reliable transportation during that time (MCL 257.1403(3)).
Is the Michigan Lemon Law still in effect?
Yes. Michigan’s Lemon Law, Public Act 87 of 1986, is current law at MCL 257.1401 to 257.1410, and the Attorney General publishes guidance on it. What it does not do is cover every vehicle: motor homes, buses, trucks other than pickups and vans, motorcycles and off-road vehicles are excluded.
Michigan does not give a three-day right to return a new car. The Attorney General states that there is no cooling-off period for a new vehicle purchase; the Lemon Law remedy comes only after repeated repairs.
Does the Michigan Lemon Law cover used cars?
Michigan’s Attorney General says the law can apply to a used vehicle still covered by the manufacturer’s express warranty when you bought it, if the problem is reported within one year of delivery to the original buyer. Michigan’s Lemon Law needs the manufacturer’s express warranty.
To test your own dates and repair visits, run your Michigan repair history through the checker.
Michigan Lemon Law FAQs
What qualifies for the lemon law in Michigan?
A covered vehicle with a defect reported within the warranty or the first year, repaired 4 or more times within 2 years of the first repair, or out of service 30 or more days in that first period, after you sent the manufacturer return-receipt notice and allowed a 5-business-day final repair.
Is the lemon law still in effect in Michigan?
Yes. The Michigan Lemon Law (MCL 257.1401–257.1410) is current law. It covers passenger vehicles, SUVs, pickups and vans bought or leased in Michigan or by Michigan residents.
Can you return a used car after buying it in Michigan?
Generally no. Michigan has no cooling-off period for vehicle purchases. A used car still under the manufacturer’s express warranty may be covered by the Lemon Law if the problem is reported within 1 year of delivery to the original buyer.
How is the Michigan lemon law refund calculated?
The purchase price, minus price × (miles before your first report + miles beyond 25,000) ÷ 100,000, minus any damage beyond normal use. Towing and rental costs caused by the defect are added if they were not provided free.
Does Michigan have a lemon law deadline?
The Lemon Law act sets no separate filing deadline, but other legal time limits for warranty claims still apply. Act promptly and ask a Michigan attorney about your date.
Sources
Checked on October 13, 2026. We re-verify Michigan rules when the legislature, the courts or the agency change them. Read how we check every rule in our editorial policy.