Consumer protection guide · TN
Tennessee Lemon Law
Under Tennessee's lemon law, a new vehicle qualifies as a lemon after 3 unsuccessful repair attempts or 30 cumulative days out of service, entitling the buyer to a refund or a replacement vehicle.
Tennessee Motor Vehicle Warranty Act
StatuteTenn. Code Ann. § 55-24-101 et seq.· Enacted 1986
Last reviewed
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12 mo
Coverage period
3
Repair attempts
30 days
Days out of service
Cumulative for warranty work
—
Statute of limitations
6 months after the later of warranty expiry or 1 year from delivery, extended while a manufacturer dispute program reviews your claim
If you bought or leased a new vehicle in Tennessee that keeps going back to the dealer for the same unresolved defect, you may be protected under Tennessee Motor Vehicle Warranty Act (enacted 1986), codified at Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-24-101 et seq. This guide explains — in plain English — how the law works, what qualifies a vehicle as a lemon in Tennessee, what remedies you can demand from the manufacturer, and how to file a claim. It is not legal advice; when a real dispute emerges you should consult a licensed Tennessee consumer attorney.
What the Tennessee lemon law covers
Qualifying criteria
The law covers new vehicles and leased vehicles. The defect must appear within the first 12 months of original delivery. The manufacturer or its authorized dealer must have had at least 3 opportunities to fix the same defect. OR the vehicle must have been out of service for at least 30 cumulative days for warranty repairs during the coverage period.
Your remedies
If your vehicle qualifies, the Tennessee lemon law requires the manufacturer to provide a refund or a replacement vehicle. The statute (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-24-101 et seq.) decides who chooses between them, what a refund must include — often the purchase price plus taxes and fees — and how much the manufacturer may deduct for your use of the vehicle. A replacement must be comparable to the vehicle it replaces. If you win, Tennessee law can also make the manufacturer pay your reasonable attorney's fees, which is why many lemon-law attorneys take these cases without an upfront fee.
How to file a Tennessee lemon law claim
Here is how a typical Tennessee lemon-law claim unfolds: (1) Keep every repair order the dealer gives you — dates, mileage, the defect description, and the parts replaced. These become your evidence. (2) Send the manufacturer written notice of the defect after the third or fourth repair attempt and request a final repair opportunity. (3) If the manufacturer offers a certified dispute-resolution program, check Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-24-101 et seq. and your warranty booklet before skipping it — some lemon laws require you to use one before you can sue. (4) Watch the filing deadline: 6 months after the later of warranty expiry or 1 year from delivery, extended while a manufacturer dispute program reviews your claim. Check Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-24-101 et seq. for the exact rule and confirm it with a Tennessee lemon-law attorney early.
Federal backup: Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
Whether or not your claim fits the Tennessee lemon law, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.) provides an independent cause of action whenever a written warranty has been breached. Magnuson-Moss applies in every state, allows you to recover attorney’s fees and costs from the manufacturer when you prevail, and covers used vehicles sold with an express written warranty — filling many of the gaps that narrow state lemon laws leave open.
Tennessee lemon law FAQs
Lemon laws in other states
Check a Tennessee VIN for a lemon-law buyback before you buy
Many states require a manufacturer buyback to be branded on the title (California’s “Lemon Law Buyback” brand, for example), but not all do — some only require a written disclosure to the next buyer. A full vehicle history report shows title brands where they were reported; the free VIN check does not.