Mississippi Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under Mississippi Lemon Law

What Is the Mississippi Lemon Law? Mississippi's lemon law, codified at Miss. Code Ann. § 63-17-151 et seq., provides a statutory remedy when a new motor vehicle contains a substantial defect that persists despite reasonable attempts to repair it. The law is intended to protect consumers who purchase or lease new vehicles that prove to be defective in ways that impair their use, safety, or value. Under the statute, when a manufacturer cannot cure a nonconformity within the statutory repair thresholds, the consumer may be entitled to a replacement vehicle or a refund repurchase. The Mississippi Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division handles consumer inquiries and can provide guidance on filing complaints, but the statute itself sets the legal standards for lemon law claims. For official consumer assistance, see the Mississippi Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division: https://www.ago.state.ms.us/divisions/consumer-protection/. Statutory citation: Miss. Code Ann. § 63-17-151 et seq. refer to the statute for the full statutory language and any updates. Which Vehicles Qualify Under Mississippi Lemon Law? Mississippi's lemon law covers new motor vehicles sold or leased to a consumer in the state. The statute specifically applies to passenger motor vehicles, trucks, and multipurpose passenger vehicles that are purchased or leased for personal, family, or household use. The law does not extend to used vehicles, as Mississippi's statutory scheme is limited to new vehicles only. Coverage period: The statute provides that coverage applies during the earlier of 12 months or 12,000 miles following the vehicle’s original delivery to the purchaser or lessee. That limitation period defines the window in which the repair-attempt thresholds and days-out-of-service calculations are measured. Excluded vehicles and situations commonly include: used vehicles, vehicles acquired for resale, and defects caused by abuse, neglect, unauthorized modifications, or improper maintenance. Dealership inspections and routine maintenance visits generally do not count as repair attempts for the same defect unless the issue is diagnosed and repair work is attempted. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in Mississippi? Mississippi's lemon law establishes objective thresholds that trigger a presumption that a vehicle is a lemon. The two primary thresholds are a specified number of repair attempts for the same defect and a cumulative number of days the vehicle is out of service. If either threshold is met within the coverage period 12 months or 12,000 miles, the consumer is typically entitled to seek a statutory remedy. Below is a quick reference table summarizing the statutory thresholds. | Threshold type | Mississippi standard | |---|---:| | Repair attempts for the same nonconformity | 3 repair attempts | | Days out of service cumulative | 15 calendar days | The "three repair attempts" rule means the same defect — a problem that substantially impairs th