Minnesota Lemon Law rules at a glance
The Minnesota Lemon Law (New Motor Vehicle Warranties) is Minn. Stat. § 325F.665.
| Rule | What Minnesota law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | Minn. Stat. § 325F.665 | Minn. Stat. § 325F.665 |
| Vehicles covered | Passenger automobiles, including pickup trucks and vans, used for personal, family or household purposes at least 40% of the time; The self-propelled chassis or van portion of recreational vehicles; The chassis or van portion of ambulances bought by licensed ambulance services; Leases of more than four months | |
| Not covered | Vehicles used for personal purposes less than 40% of the time; The living portion of recreational vehicles | |
| Protection window | The express warranty term or 2 years from original delivery, whichever is earlier | Minn. Stat. § 325F.665, subd. 2, 3(b) |
| Brake or Steering Failure Test | A complete failure of the braking or steering system, likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, was repaired at least once and continues | subd. 3(c) |
| Four Repairs Test | The same defect was repaired 4 or more times and continues; the manufacturer or dealer must have received written notice at least once and a chance to cure | subd. 3(b)(1), 3(e) |
| 30 Business Days Test | Out of service for repair a cumulative total of 30 or more business days, after written notice at least once (business days) | subd. 3(b)(2), 3(e) |
| Written notice | Give the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized dealer written notification of the defect at least once and an opportunity to cure it. A dealer that receives the notice must forward it to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested. | subd. 3(e) |
| Dispute program first? | Every manufacturer must run or join an arbitration program located in Minnesota that complies with FTC Rule 703. You must use it before suing for a refund or replacement, unless the manufacturer allows otherwise. Its decision is nonbinding unless both sides agree, and the fee cannot exceed the county conciliation court filing fee (subd. 6, 7). | |
| Deadline | Start a civil action within 3 years of original delivery. If you applied to the manufacturer’s arbitration program within those 3 years, you have 6 months after its final decision | subd. 10 |
| Usage deduction | Minnesota caps the allowance for use at 10 cents a mile or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less, counting use while the vehicle was not substantially impaired (subd. 3(a)). |
Four repairs, 30 business days or one brake repair in Minnesota
Minnesota presumes a reasonable number of attempts when, within the express warranty or 2 years from delivery (whichever is earlier):
Brake or Steering Failure Test
A complete failure of the braking or steering system, likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, was repaired at least once and continues.
subd. 3(c)Four Repairs Test
The same defect was repaired 4 or more times and continues; the manufacturer or dealer must have received written notice at least once and a chance to cure.
subd. 3(b)(1), 3(e)30 Business Days Test
Out of service for repair a cumulative total of 30 or more business days, after written notice at least once.
subd. 3(b)(2), 3(e)The defect must substantially impair the vehicle’s use or market value. If you first reported it during the warranty, repair attempts made within 3 years of delivery can still count after the 2-year period ends (subd. 3(f)).
Notice to the manufacturer in Minnesota
Give the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized dealer written notification of the defect at least once and an opportunity to cure it. A dealer that receives the notice must forward it to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested.
In Minnesota the 4-repair and 30-day presumptions apply only after written notice to the manufacturer or dealer at least once and a chance to cure.
Dispute program first. Every manufacturer must run or join an arbitration program located in Minnesota that complies with FTC Rule 703. You must use it before suing for a refund or replacement, unless the manufacturer allows otherwise. Its decision is nonbinding unless both sides agree, and the fee cannot exceed the county conciliation court filing fee (subd. 6, 7).
At purchase or lease, the manufacturer must hand you a separate written statement explaining that you must notify it in writing and that you can use its Minnesota arbitration program.
Minnesota’s 3-year deadline and the arbitration extension
Start a civil action within 3 years of original delivery. If you applied to the manufacturer’s arbitration program within those 3 years, you have 6 months after its final decision (subd. 10).
| Event | Date | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle delivered | Mar 15, 2025 | The protection window starts |
| Protection window ends | March 15, 2027 | Repairs after this date do not count toward the tests |
| Sue by | March 15, 2028 | Start a civil action within 3 years of original delivery. If you applied to the manufacturer’s arbitration program within those 3 years, you have 6 months after its final decision |
If you file with the arbitration program within 3 years and disagree with its decision, you have 6 months after the final decision to sue.
How to file a Minnesota lemon law claim
- Report the defect during the warrantyTo the manufacturer, its agent or its dealer, within the warranty or 2 years, whichever is earlier.
- Send written notice at least onceGive the manufacturer a chance to cure. A dealer must forward your notice by certified mail.
- Use the Minnesota arbitration programRequired before suing for a refund or replacement. The fee cannot exceed the conciliation court filing fee.
- Accept or reject the decisionIt is nonbinding unless both sides agree; either side can take it to district court.
- Sue within 3 yearsOr within 6 months of the arbitration decision if you applied within 3 years. A consumer who wins recovers attorney fees.
Refund, replacement and the Minnesota deduction for use
| Remedy | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Refund | The full purchase price, including options added within 30 days of delivery, the trade-in value, sales or excise tax, license and registration fees, and towing and rental costs, less a reasonable allowance for use of no more than 10 cents a mile or 10% of the price, whichever is less. |
| Replacement | A comparable vehicle, but you can reject a replacement and require a refund instead. |
Minnesota caps the allowance for use at 10 cents a mile or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less, counting use while the vehicle was not substantially impaired (subd. 3(a)).
Minnesota’s required arbitration program
| Rule | What § 325F.665, subd. 6–8 says |
|---|---|
| Location | The program must be located in Minnesota, with an in-person hearing unless you agree otherwise |
| Cost to you | No more than the conciliation court filing fee in the county |
| Expert | You can have a technical expert of your choice appraise the manufacturer’s claims before the hearing |
| Decision | Nonbinding unless both sides agree; admissible in court |
| If the manufacturer appeals | It must file in district court within 30 days |
| Bad-faith appeal | The court awards three times actual damages plus costs and attorney fees |
How Minnesota caps the deduction for use
The manufacturer may deduct a reasonable allowance for use, but never more than 10 cents a mile or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less. Only use while the vehicle was not substantially impaired counts.
| Miles counted | 10¢ a mile | 10% of price | Maximum deduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8,000 | $800.00 | $4,000.00 | $800.00 |
| 25,000 | $2,500.00 | $4,000.00 | $2,500.00 |
| 50,000 | $5,000.00 | $4,000.00 | $4,000.00 |
The refund also covers options added by the dealer within 30 days, your trade-in value, sales or excise tax, license and registration fees, and towing and rental costs. The tax refund is reduced in proportion to the use allowance (subd. 3(h)).
Buying a returned vehicle in Minnesota
- A returned vehicle can be resold only with the original warranty for at least 12,000 miles or 12 months and a written statement that it was returned as a lemon.
- A vehicle returned for a complete brake or steering failure cannot be resold in Minnesota at all.
- Its title is branded “lemon law vehicle”, including titles carried over from other states.
Second owners in Minnesota
A person to whom the new vehicle is transferred for personal use during the express warranty is a consumer. Minnesota’s Lemon Law needs the manufacturer’s express warranty on a new vehicle.
Leases of more than four months are covered, but a lessee receives a refund rather than a replacement. The lessor receives the original price plus early termination costs of up to 15% of the price, less what you paid on the lease.
To test your own dates and repair visits, check your Minnesota repair history in the free tool.
Minnesota Lemon Law FAQs
What qualifies as a lemon in Minnesota?
A new vehicle with a defect that substantially impairs its use or market value, not fixed after 4 repairs, 30 business days out of service or 1 repair of a complete brake or steering failure, during the warranty or the first 2 years.
Do I have to use arbitration for a Minnesota lemon law claim?
Yes, before suing for a refund or replacement, unless the manufacturer lets you go straight to court. The program must be in Minnesota and cost no more than the conciliation court filing fee.
How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in Minnesota?
Three years from original delivery, or 6 months after the arbitration program’s final decision if you applied within those 3 years.
How much is deducted from a Minnesota lemon law refund?
A reasonable allowance for use of no more than 10 cents a mile or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less.
Can I refuse a replacement vehicle in Minnesota?
Yes. If the manufacturer offers a replacement, you can reject it and require a refund.
Sources
Checked on October 13, 2026. We re-verify Minnesota rules when the legislature, the courts or the agency change them. Read how we check every rule in our editorial policy.