How does the lemon law process work in Tennessee?
Tennessee's lemon law process flows through civil court, preceded by mandatory manufacturer informal dispute resolution where certified.
1. Governing Statute
Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-24-201 to 55-24-212, the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Lemon Law. Consumer assistance available through the Tennessee Attorney General's Consumer Affairs Division.
2. Coverage
Covers new motor vehicles purchased and registered in Tennessee, primarily designed for personal, family, or household use. Includes passenger cars and light trucks. Excludes motor homes' living quarters, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR. Leased vehicles are covered. Used vehicles are excluded.
3. Lemon Presumption
Under § 55-24-203, a reasonable number of attempts is presumed if within 1 year from delivery or the term of the express warranty, whichever is earlier: (a) the same nonconformity has been subject to repair 3 or more times, or (b) the vehicle is out of service for repair 30+ cumulative calendar days.
4. Notice to Manufacturer
After 3 attempts or 30 days out of service, the consumer must give the manufacturer written notice by certified mail and one final repair opportunity of up to 10 days (§ 55-24-202).
5. Manufacturer's Buy-Back / Replacement
At the consumer's option, manufacturer must replace with a comparable new vehicle or refund the full purchase price (including collateral charges) minus a reasonable allowance for use (§ 55-24-202(a)).
6. Arbitration
If the manufacturer has a state-certified informal dispute settlement procedure (e.g., BBB AUTO LINE), the consumer must first resort to it (§ 55-24-205). Decision binds only the manufacturer.
7. Lawsuit & Fee-Shifting
A prevailing consumer recovers reasonable attorney's fees (§ 55-24-208). Parallel claims under Magnuson-Moss (15 U.S.C. § 2310(d)) and the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-101 et seq.) — which allows treble damages for willful violations — are common.
This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Manufacturer's certified arbitration produced an unfavorable result
- Consumer Protection Act treble damages potential for willful conduct
- Vehicle warranty term expired but defect was reported earlier
- Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-24-201 to 55-24-212 (Motor Vehicle Lemon Law)
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-101 (Consumer Protection Act)
- 15 U.S.C. § 2301 (Magnuson-Moss)
- 16 CFR Part 703
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.