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Tennessee lemon law: when your car is a lemon and how to claim

In Tennessee, a new car counts as a lemon after 3 repairs for the same problem or 30 days in the shop. First, send the manufacturer a written notice: the free letter below does it.

Checked against official sources: Oct 22, 2026

See lawlemon law period
3 triesrepairs for the same problem
30 daysout of service
Check your warrantyarbitration or state process before suing
See the ruledeadline to sue or file
Get your letter ↓

Your next 4 steps in Tennessee

  1. Keep every repair order

    Get a written repair order at every visit, with the date, mileage and days in the shop. In Tennessee, a car is presumed a lemon after 3 repairs for the same problem or 30 days in the shop.

  2. Send the manufacturer a written notice

    According to the Attorney General, before you can get a refund you must notify the manufacturer of the problem in writing by certified mail. Write your notice letter ↓

  3. Let the manufacturer make its final repair attempt

    If the manufacturer asks for one more repair after your notice, take the car in and get a repair order.

  4. Ask for a refund or replacement, use arbitration, or call a lawyer

    Check your warranty booklet for a manufacturer’s dispute program you may have to use first.

When a car is a lemon in Tennessee

According to the Attorney General, your vehicle may be a lemon if it has a defect that makes it unreliable or unsafe for normal use and the manufacturer or dealer cannot fix it after three attempts, or it is out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more days.

Period: The Attorney General's summary refers to defects reported in the first year after original delivery or during the manufacturer's express warranty. The official statute text is not freely available online, so check with the Attorney General's office.

Is your car a lemon in Tennessee? A quick check

Tennessee: The Attorney General's summary refers to defects reported in the first year after original delivery or during the manufacturer's express warranty. The official statute text is not freely available online, so check with the Attorney General's office.

Fill in what you knowThe result updates as you type.

A rough guide to Tennessee’s presumption, not legal advice. Even if your car falls short, you may still have a claim under your warranty or federal law.

Notice to the manufacturer

According to the Attorney General, before you can get a refund you must notify the manufacturer of the problem in writing by certified mail.

Write your notice letter below.

Arbitration

Check your warranty. We found no state-run lemon law arbitration program on official Tennessee sites. Check your warranty for a manufacturer's dispute program.

Deadline to sue or file in Tennessee

According to the Attorney General, lawsuits must be brought within 6 months after one year from original delivery or the end of the express warranty, whichever is later (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-24-101 to -112; exact section not confirmed).

What you can get

According to the Attorney General, you may be entitled to return the vehicle and receive a refund of the full purchase price. Replacement options and use deductions could not be confirmed from the statute text.

Free lemon law notice letter

Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. Fill this in, download the letter, sign it and mail it to the manufacturer. Keep a copy.

Send it by certified mail with return receipt so you have proof, and keep the receipt.

On your registration, insurance card or the driver’s side of the dashboard. A VIN never uses I, O or Q.

Find it in your warranty booklet or owner's manual (look for 'Customer Assistance').

Other formats

Who to contact

Office
Tennessee Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs
Phone
615-741-4737

Official page · Official lemon law guide

What the law covers

New vehicles
Yes
Used vehicles
No
Leased vehicles
Not specified
Which vehicles
New motor vehicles. Motorcycles that are registered and titled as Class A vehicles were added effective July 1, 2010. Other vehicle limits could not be confirmed from the statute text.
Who can claim
The Attorney General describes the law as covering a person who bought a new vehicle, or a vehicle still under the manufacturer's warranty. Exact definitions could not be confirmed from the statute text.

Used cars in Tennessee

Tennessee's lemon law does not cover used vehicle purchases, according to the state's Consumer Affairs help article (Tennessee Commerce & Insurance help center, 'Lemon Law').

Used car rules in every state

Good to know

  • Motorcycles registered and titled as Class A vehicles have been covered since July 1, 2010 (2010 Public Chapter 635).

Questions about Tennessee's lemon law

How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Tennessee?

According to the Attorney General, your vehicle may be a lemon if it has a defect that makes it unreliable or unsafe for normal use and the manufacturer or dealer cannot fix it after three attempts, or it is out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more days.

How long does Tennessee's lemon law cover a car?

The Attorney General's summary refers to defects reported in the first year after original delivery or during the manufacturer's express warranty. The official statute text is not freely available online, so check with the Attorney General's office.

Do I have to notify the manufacturer in Tennessee?

According to the Attorney General, before you can get a refund you must notify the manufacturer of the problem in writing by certified mail.

Do I have to go to arbitration in Tennessee?

We found no state-run lemon law arbitration program on official Tennessee sites. Check your warranty for a manufacturer's dispute program.

What can I get under Tennessee's lemon law?

According to the Attorney General, you may be entitled to return the vehicle and receive a refund of the full purchase price. Replacement options and use deductions could not be confirmed from the statute text.

Is there a deadline to file a lemon law claim in Tennessee?

According to the Attorney General, lawsuits must be brought within 6 months after one year from original delivery or the end of the express warranty, whichever is later (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-24-101 to -112; exact section not confirmed).

Does Tennessee's lemon law cover used cars?

Tennessee's lemon law does not cover used vehicle purchases, according to the state's Consumer Affairs help article (Tennessee Commerce & Insurance help center, 'Lemon Law').

Car not covered, or the period has passed? Federal warranty law may still help, and small claims court can handle smaller repair bills.

Federal warranty law

Sources

Last checked: Oct 22, 2026.

Law: Tennessee Lemon Law (Motor Vehicle Warranties), Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-24-101 to 55-24-112

Other states