Massachusetts Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under Massachusetts Lemon Law

What Is the Massachusetts Lemon Law? The Massachusetts Lemon Law, codified at Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½, provides statutory remedies when a new or qualifying used motor vehicle cannot be repaired to conform to the manufacturer's express warranty after a reasonable number of attempts. The law gives the consumer the right to demand a refund repurchase or replacement vehicle when the vehicle continues to suffer from a substantial defect that impairs its use, value, or safety and the manufacturer is unable to correct it within the statutory thresholds. The law is designed to balance consumer protection with fair notice and opportunity for manufacturers to repair defects. Under the statute, the thresholds that trigger relief are objective: three repair attempts for the same nonconformity or fifteen cumulative days out of service for warranty repairs during the statutory coverage period. The relevant statutory text is located at Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½ and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s consumer information page explains how the law works for Massachusetts residents. See the official guidance at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s site https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-lemon-laws and the statute itself Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½ for authoritative language. For additional background on consumer lemon law principles and how state laws interact with federal warranty protections, see our general primer on lemon law basics at /resources/what-is-the-lemon-law/. Which Vehicles Qualify Under Massachusetts Lemon Law? Massachusetts law covers both new motor vehicles and certain used vehicles that are sold with a written warranty. The statutory coverage period for qualifying vehicles is the first 12 months or 15,000 miles from the date of delivery, whichever occurs first. Within that period, if the vehicle experiences a substantial defect that is covered by the manufacturer’s express warranty and the defect is not repaired after the statutory thresholds are met, the consumer may be eligible for a repurchase or replacement under the statute Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½. Qualifying vehicles include passenger cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles sold in Massachusetts that are covered by a written express warranty. A used vehicle is eligible only if it was sold with an express warranty and the defect occurs while the vehicle is still within the warranty’s applicable coverage window the 12 months/15,000 miles statutory period. Vehicles that are sold “as is,” or without a manufacturer or dealer warranty, are generally not protected by the Massachusetts Lemon Law. If you are unsure whether your vehicle qualifies, consult the manufacturer’s warranty documents, the dealer sales paperwork, and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s guidance at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-lemon-laws. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in Massachusetts? Massachusetts sets clear thresholds that determine when a vehicle is p