Tennessee Lemon Law Guide
Buyer rights, coverage thresholds, and how to file a claim in Tennessee.
1 yr
Coverage Period
No cap
Miles
4
Repair Attempts
30
Days Out of Service
What Tennessee Lemon Law Covers
New motor vehicles purchased in Tennessee and still within the manufacturer's express warranty period.. The law protects buyers when a vehicle has a substantial defect that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Used Car Coverage in Tennessee
Standard used vehicles with no remaining manufacturer warranty are not covered. A vehicle still within its original manufacturer warranty at time of purchase may qualify, but the law's primary intent is new-vehicle purchases.
Qualifying Criteria
To qualify under Tennessee lemon law, a vehicle must meet at least one of the following thresholds within the coverage window:
| Criterion | Tennessee Threshold |
|---|---|
| Same defect repair attempts | 4 attempts |
| Out-of-service days (cumulative) | 30 days |
| Coverage window — time | 1 year from original delivery |
| Coverage window — mileage | No mileage cap — time-based only |
Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
Tennessee requires you to go through an arbitration or dispute resolution program before filing a lawsuit.
If the manufacturer operates a qualifying informal dispute settlement program under 16 C.F.R. Part 703 and has notified the consumer of it, the consumer must exhaust that process before the statutory refund/replacement remedy applies. The Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission can discipline licensees but cannot order consumer refunds — a refund or replacement claim must go through private litigation or Division of Consumer Affairs mediation, not an MVC complaint alone.
How to File a Lemon Law Claim in Tennessee
- 1
Document every repair attempt
Keep all repair orders with dates, mileage, and defect descriptions. You need written proof the same issue was reported and repaired multiple times.
- 2
Track out-of-service days
Record every day the vehicle was at the dealer for repairs. A cumulative total of 30 or more days can independently qualify the vehicle.
- 3
Send written notice to the manufacturer
Mail a certified letter to the manufacturer (not the dealer) describing the unresolved defect and requesting a final repair opportunity.
- 4
Use the dispute resolution program
If the manufacturer operates a qualifying informal dispute settlement program under 16 C.F.R. Part 703 and has notified the consumer of it, the consumer must exhaust that process before the statutory refund/replacement remedy applies. The Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission can discipline licensees but cannot order consumer refunds — a refund or replacement claim must go through private litigation or Division of Consumer Affairs mediation, not an MVC complaint alone.
- 5
File with the state agency or court
Contact the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission (regulatory complaints); Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, Attorney General's Office (refund/replacement mediation) or file in Tennessee civil court. Bring all repair orders, purchase documents, and correspondence.
- 6
Collect your remedy
A successful claim results in a full refund or replacement vehicle. The manufacturer pays attorney fees in most states.
Lemon Law and Bill of Sale
If your vehicle was repurchased under lemon law, the title will carry a "Lemon Law Buyback" brand in most states. When selling this vehicle, you must disclose the lemon history on the bill of sale and title. Hiding this information is fraud.
Buyers seeing a "Lemon Law Buyback" brand on a title should expect a significant price reduction and obtain a full mechanical inspection before purchasing.
Tennessee Lemon Law — FAQ
- Does Tennessee lemon law cover used cars?
- Standard used vehicles with no remaining manufacturer warranty are not covered. A vehicle still within its original manufacturer warranty at time of purchase may qualify, but the law's primary intent is new-vehicle purchases.
- How many repair attempts qualify in Tennessee?
- 4 repair attempts for the same defect, or the vehicle being out of service for 30+ cumulative days within the coverage period.
- Does private party sale trigger lemon law?
- No. Lemon laws in virtually all states apply only to purchases from dealers or manufacturers. Private party sales are buyer beware.
- What remedy can I get?
- A full refund (purchase price minus mileage offset) or a replacement vehicle. The manufacturer must also cover incidental costs and attorney fees in most states.