Lemon Law Demand Letter — Minnesota

In Minnesota, a new vehicle is presumed a lemon if, within the first 2 years after delivery or the express warranty term, whichever is earlier, for reporting the defect (repair attempts toward the presumption can continue up to 3 years after delivery), it has had four repair attempts for the same defect, or the vehicle out of service 30 or more business days. Below is a ready-to-edit lemon law demand letter with Minnesota's statute — the Minnesota Lemon Law — already cited; add your vehicle and repair history, then send it to the manufacturer.

Minnesota at a glance

Coverage window: the first 2 years after delivery or the express warranty term, whichever is earlier, for reporting the defect (repair attempts toward the presumption can continue up to 3 years after delivery).
The tests: four repair attempts for the same defect, or the vehicle out of service 30 or more business days.
What this letter does: statutorily required — written notification to the manufacturer, its agent, or an authorized dealer, giving an opportunity to cure; if a dealer or agent receives it instead of the manufacturer directly, the law requires them to forward it to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Where it escalates: the manufacturer’s certified informal dispute settlement program if it maintains one, or a civil lawsuit.
Minnesota’s statute only requires this notice to be in writing — it doesn’t require you personally to use certified mail, though sending it that way still gives you dated proof of delivery.
Minnesota has an unusual two-stage window: you must first report the defect within 2 years of delivery or the warranty term (whichever is earlier), but repair attempts toward the presumption can continue up to 3 years after delivery.

Lemon Law Demand Letter

Copy the letter below into the editor, replace the text in [brackets] with your details, and PostPal will print and mail it for you.

Subject: Lemon Law Notice — Demand for Repurchase or Replacement

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Minnesota ZIP Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]

[Date]

[Manufacturer Name] — Customer Relations / Owner Relations
[Manufacturer Address — listed in your warranty booklet or owner's manual]

RE: Written notice under the Minnesota Lemon Law (Minn. Stat. § 325F.665)
Vehicle: [Year] [Make] [Model], VIN [VIN]

Dear [Manufacturer Name] Owner Relations,

I am the [owner / lessee] of a [Year] [Make] [Model], VIN [VIN], purchased [or leased] new on [Purchase Date] from [Dealer Name] in [City], Minnesota.

Since delivery, the vehicle has exhibited the following defect: [describe the defect and how it impairs the vehicle's use, value, or safety]. The vehicle has been presented to your authorized dealer for repair of this defect on the following occasions:

• [Date] — [Repair order #] — [What was done]
• [Date] — [Repair order #] — [What was done]
• [Date] — [Repair order #] — [What was done]

In total, the defect has been subject to [number] repair attempts, and the vehicle has been out of service for [number] days. The defect remains uncorrected.

Under the Minnesota Lemon Law (Minn. Stat. § 325F.665), a manufacturer that cannot conform a new motor vehicle to its express warranty after a reasonable number of repair attempts must replace it or refund the purchase price. A reasonable number of attempts is presumed where the same defect has been subject to repair four or more times, or the vehicle has been out of service 30 or more business days, provided the defect was first reported to the manufacturer, its agent, or an authorized dealer within 2 years of delivery or the warranty term, whichever is earlier.

This letter is my written notification of the defect described above and my request that you repair it. If it is not corrected after a reasonable number of attempts, I intend to pursue replacement or a refund through your certified dispute settlement program, if you have one, or in court, without further notice to you.

Copies of my repair orders are available on request. Please respond in writing to the address above.

Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]

What your lemon law demand letter must include

Your full name, address, and contact details
The vehicle’s year, make, model, and VIN, plus the purchase/lease date and selling dealer
A clear description of the defect and how it impairs the vehicle’s use, value, or safety
The full repair history: dates, repair-order numbers, and days out of service (Minnesota looks for four repair attempts for the same defect, or the vehicle out of service 30 or more business days)
What you are demanding — a repurchase (refund) or a comparable replacement vehicle
A deadline for the manufacturer to respond, and where to send its response

Frequently asked questions

When does a car qualify as a lemon in Minnesota?

The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer must have had a reasonable chance to fix it — in Minnesota that is presumed within the first 2 years after delivery or the express warranty term, whichever is earlier, for reporting the defect (repair attempts toward the presumption can continue up to 3 years after delivery), after four repair attempts for the same defect, or the vehicle out of service 30 or more business days. Keep every repair order; the paper trail is the claim.

Do I need to use an official form?

No official form. Minnesota’s statute requires this notification to be in writing, but doesn’t require you to send it by certified mail — that said, sending it that way gives you dated proof of delivery, which matters if you need to establish the presumption later.

Who do I send the letter to — the dealer or the manufacturer?

The manufacturer. Lemon law obligations run against the vehicle manufacturer, not the selling dealer — send it to the manufacturer’s customer/owner relations address listed in your warranty booklet or owner’s manual (PostPal’s where-to-mail directory also lists head-office addresses for major automakers like Ford, General Motors, and Tesla). Keep dealing with the dealer for the repairs themselves.

What happens after I send it?

If the manufacturer maintains a certified informal dispute settlement program, you may need to try it first. Otherwise, or if you’re dissatisfied with that outcome, you can pursue replacement or a refund in court.

More lemon law demand letter templates for other states

Facts verified against official sources on September 3, 2026: revisor.mn.gov, ag.state.mn.us.

This template is provided for convenience only. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Court limits and rules change — confirm anything time-sensitive on the official page, and consult a qualified legal professional for advice specific to your situation.