Michigan Lemon Law: Do You Qualify?
Under the Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 257.1401-257.1410 (Michigan Lemon Law).
Michigan's lemon law covers new vehicles (including motorcycles) purchased or leased in Michigan, with a time-based window: the defect must be reported within 1 year of delivery or the express warranty term, whichever ends first. There is no mileage cap on eligibility. The thresholds are less forgiving than some states (4 attempts, no shortcut for safety defects), but Michigan adds a rare enhancement: treble damages for willful violations. If your new car keeps failing the same way, you may qualify; the free checker below applies Michigan's rules to your answers in minutes.
Michigan lemon law at a glance
- Coverage window
- 1 year from delivery or the manufacturer's express warranty term, whichever ends first. Time-based only: Michigan puts no mileage cap on eligibility (the 25,000-mile figure in the statute affects only the refund's use-allowance math).
- Repair attempts
- 4 attempts for the same defect or condition. Michigan provides no reduced attempt count for safety-related defects.
- Days out of service
- 30 cumulative calendar days within the warranty term or the first year, whichever is earlier; the days may combine across different defects.
- Written notice
- Required: written notice to the manufacturer is the procedural trigger for its replace-or-refund obligation, sent after the repair threshold and before invoking the presumption or suing. Certified mail is best practice.
- Used vehicles
- Categorically excluded: Michigan has no used-car lemon law and defines "new motor vehicle" to exclude used vehicles. Used-car buyers rely on the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and UCC warranty claims.
Check your Michigan eligibility now
Free, anonymous, and specific to Michigan. Answer a few questions about your vehicle and repair history to see whether you may qualify.
Michigan lemon law: frequently asked questions
- Is there a mileage limit on the Michigan lemon law?
- Not for eligibility. The window is time-based: the defect must be reported within 1 year of delivery or the express warranty term, whichever is earlier. The 25,000-mile figure that circulates online belongs to the refund formula (the reasonable use allowance), not to whether you qualify.
- How many repair attempts does Michigan require?
- Four for the same defect or condition, one more than the 3-attempt states, and Michigan has no reduced count for safety defects. Alternatively, 30 cumulative days out of service during the warranty term or the first year triggers the presumption.
- Does the Michigan lemon law cover used cars?
- No. The statute defines a "new motor vehicle" to exclude used vehicles, so the lemon law categorically does not reach them. Used-car buyers generally pursue the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or UCC breach-of-warranty claims instead.
- What can I recover under the Michigan lemon law?
- A refund of the purchase price including collateral charges minus a reasonable allowance for use, or a comparable replacement vehicle. A prevailing consumer can recover attorney fees, and willful violations open the door to treble damages, an enhancement few states offer.
- How long do I have to file in Michigan?
- The conservative reading is 4 years from delivery under Michigan's UCC warranty statute of limitations. The 1-year figure is the reporting window for the defect, not the deadline to sue.
Think you qualify? Estimate your refund with the Michigan lemon law calculator →
Statutes cited on this page
- Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.1401 (Michigan Lemon Law Act: definitions and scope; "consumer", "new motor vehicle", "manufacturer")
- Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.1403 (Reasonable number of repair attempts: 4 attempts for same defect or 30 cumulative days out of service within first year)
- Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.1402 (Manufacturer obligation to repair; pre-suit notice; first-report window = earlier of express-warranty term or 1 year from delivery, time-only)
- MCL 257.1407 (civil action; non-waiver of rights; reasonable attorney fees to prevailing consumer; NO treble damages or multiplier)
This page summarizes the statute in plain language and is not legal advice. The linked official text controls.