No Attorney’s Fees Unless We Recover · Under Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112 Tennessee Lemon Law

Tennessee Lemon Law Attorneys

You Can Get a Cash Settlement, a Replacement Car, or a Refund with Easy Lemon

Millions Recovered for Drivers

Statute-cited approach

2022 or Newer Vehicles

Fast and Simple Process

Call (855) 435-3666

$30M+^**

Recovered

97%^*

Resolution Rate

No Attorney’s Fees^†

Unless We Recover

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Client Rating

The 60-second answer

The Tennessee Lemon Law (Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112) requires manufacturers to repurchase or replace a new motor vehicle with a substantial defect after 3 repair attempts for the same defect or 30 cumulative calendar days out of service. Under this statute, the manufacturer pays the consumer's attorney fees when the consumer prevails, no attorney fees unless we recover for you. Easy Lemon represents Tennessee drivers at every stage.

How your Tennessee claim gets built

Our lemon law work is directed by Steven P. Nassi, Esq., Managing Partner, Easy Lemon by RockPoint Law P.C. A Tennessee claim gets built on two things: the Tennessee lemon law statute, and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which applies in all fifty states. Send the repair orders and the purchase or lease paperwork, and we can tell you which of the two fits your vehicle.

Read Steven Nassi’s full bio →

Warning Signs

Is Your Car a Lemon?

Your car may be a lemon if it keeps going back to the dealer or the mechanic for the same problem. Under Tennessee law, the defect must make the car unsafe, unreliable or worth much less. The manufacturer or dealer must also have failed to fix it after several tries.

The same noise, shaking or warning light keeps coming back.

The dealer has worked on it multiple times and the problem is still there.

Your Rights

Understanding Tennessee's Lemon Law

Tennessee's Lemon Law is found at Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112 and sets the rules for defective new vehicles in the state.

Statute

Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112, Tennessee Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act

Eligible Vehicles

New & leased vehicles within Tennessee's eligibility period

Repair Threshold

3 repair attempts OR 30+ days out of service

Remedies

Full refund, replacement, or cash settlement

Attorney Fees

Manufacturer can be ordered to pay attorney fees

Arbitration

Varies by state, we review what applies to your case

All within Tennessee's eligibility period (Within 6 months following the later of the express warranty term expiring or 1 year from original delivery). Tennessee law entitles you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement. No attorney fees unless we recover for you, in qualifying claims the manufacturer pays attorney fees.

The Process

How Tennessee's Lemon Law Process Works

Document Your Repairs

Ask for a repair order every time you visit a Tennessee dealer, even if the technician finds nothing. Under Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112, these papers prove your repair attempts. Keep every receipt and work order.

Contact Easy Lemon

Send us your records. We check your repair history against Tennessee's statute and tell you if your car qualifies as a lemon. The consultation is free, with no obligation.

We File Your Claim

We prepare the claim and handle the paperwork. This includes any notice to the manufacturer that Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112 requires.

Manufacturer Response

If Tennessee law gives the manufacturer a final repair attempt, it gets one. If the defect remains, Tennessee law entitles you to relief. Most claims then move toward settlement.

Get Compensated

You receive a refund, a replacement vehicle or a cash settlement. No attorney fees unless we recover for you.

Our Edge

Why Choose Us for Lemon Law?

Past Results

We've recovered over $30 million for our clients by securing refunds, cash settlements, and replacements.

Client-Centered Approach

We receive positive feedback from clients we have represented.

Fee-Shift Representation

Under Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112, the manufacturer pays the consumer's attorney fees when the consumer prevails. No fee unless we recover compensation.

Focused Results

We know the stress defective vehicles bring, so we simplify the process for you.

At Easy Lemon, your success is our mission. Let us simplify the process and get you the justice you deserve.

Actual Settlements

Tennessee Lemon Law Results

These are actual settlements obtained by the firm for clients in Tennessee. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome; every case is different. See our recent settlements page for more.

$65,972

2024 Toyota Tundra 4X4

Tennessee

Defect: a recurring defect

$59,561

2023 Mercedes Benz Eqs 580

Tennessee

Defect: electrical/ technology

Results may vary. Prior outcomes do not guarantee a similar result. Each case is unique and depends on its specific facts and applicable law.

What You're Entitled To

What The Manufacturer May Owe You

Refund

You get your purchase price back, including taxes and fees, minus any use deduction Tennessee law allows.

Cash Settlement

You receive a payment for the unresolved defect and keep your car.

Vehicle Replacement

You get a comparable new vehicle in place of the defective one, at no extra cost.

Meet Our Team

Meet Our Legal Team

Florida Managing Partner

Our lawyers are only permitted to practice law in the jurisdictions in which they are licensed or have been authorized to practice.

Real Results. Real Stories.

What Our Clients Say

About the Tennessee Lemon Law

Answers anchored to Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112, the statute that governs lemon law claims in Tennessee.

Does Tennessee have a lemon law? +

Yes, Tennessee's lemon law is the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act, Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112, and it covers new motor vehicles purchased or leased in Tennessee for personal, family, or household use. The rules are the same from Memphis to the Smokies, in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville and Murfreesboro alike. If a new car's defect is still there after the repair attempts or days out of service the act counts, the owner can ask the manufacturer for a replacement vehicle or a full refund, and the refund comes minus a reasonable use offset.

What makes a car a lemon under Tennessee law? +

A car is a lemon in Tennessee when a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs its use, market value or safety, which the statute calls a nonconformity, and the defect is still there after 3 repair attempts for the same defect or after 30 cumulative calendar days out of service. Either one has to happen inside what Tennessee calls the term of protection, and that is the express warranty or 1 year from delivery, whichever comes first.

Have you handled a lemon law case in Tennessee? +

We have, for a client who bought a 2024 Toyota Tundra 4x4 in Tennessee in October 2024. In February 2025 the check engine light came on, and the truck was very hesitant about starting. A basic scanner found no codes in the module. A leak down test was run, and coolant was dumping on the cylinder head. On March 3, 2025 Robinson Toyota worked on the engine and replaced the cylinder heads. The repair history's next entry, on August 4, 2025, says the truck had a bad oil leak under the engine. It had 31,000 miles on it when we brought the claim under the Tennessee lemon law, and it was bought back for $65,972. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Is there a shorter route for a safety defect in Tennessee? +

No, Chapter 55-24 of the Tenn. Code provides no reduced-attempt route for safety-related defects, so when the brakes or the steering are the problem the count is still 3 repair attempts for the same defect or 30 cumulative calendar days out of service.

What is the Tennessee lemon law time limit? +

Under the Tennessee lemon law, you have to file within 6 months following the later of the express warranty term expiring or 1 year from original delivery. The delivery date is on the purchase or lease contract and the warranty term is in the booklet, and we take both off your paperwork. Notice rules and a separate statute of limitation can also apply, and waiting too long can cost you your rights.

Does the Tennessee lemon law cover used cars? +

The Tennessee act only reaches new motor vehicles purchased or leased in Tennessee for personal, family, or household use, so a used car has to look to another law. But the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or another consumer statute can still help if the defect showed up while the manufacturer's warranty was active, and that is why we ask used-car owners for their warranty papers too.

Do I have to send the manufacturer written notice in Tennessee? +

Yes, Tennessee requires written notice to the manufacturer, and it has to go by certified mail. We write that letter and mail it ourselves. After the notice the manufacturer has up to 10 days to cure, and you get a copy of the letter like every other one we send on your case.

Will I need to go to court in Tennessee? +

Probably not, since most of the Tennessee lemon law cases we handle settle with the manufacturer before a lawsuit is filed. There can be a step before court, though. If the manufacturer's arbitration program is state-certified, the consumer must use it, and we prepare that filing for you.

What can I get if my car is a lemon in Tennessee? +

The statute names two remedies, a replacement vehicle or a full refund minus a reasonable use offset. Some cases end instead in a cash settlement, where you keep the car and get paid for the defect, while our client's Tundra ended as a buyback.

Who pays the attorney's fees in a Tennessee lemon law case? +

Under the statute, a consumer who prevails can recover attorney fees from the manufacturer. The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. §2310(d)) adds a second fee-shifting route when a written warranty is breached. We take Tennessee cases on contingency, so nothing is paid upfront and there's no attorney's fee unless we recover for you, and when a manufacturer settles or loses we ask it to pay our fees on top of your recovery. Our fee agreement is one page, and we go over it with you on the first call.

Do I need a lemon law attorney in Tennessee? +

You can bring the claim yourself, but the manufacturer will have its own legal team. A lemon law attorney knows what Tennessee law requires and how the negotiation and the litigation work, and a consumer who prevails can recover attorney fees from the manufacturer. Whether to hire one is your decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file a lemon law claim in Tennessee? +

Start with a call to 855-435-3666 or the free case review form at easylemon.com, and then we ask you for the repair orders. A Connecticut client sent us four of them for a 2025 Audi Q5. The fuel filler cap got replaced and kept popping off. The same Audi service action was done twice. Then the check engine light came back after a remote software update, and later the car lost power and was towed in. For a Tennessee car we hold orders like those up against the 3 attempts and the 30 days, and if they meet one of them the certified-mail notice goes to the manufacturer. Then we make the demand and negotiate, mostly by phone and email, and if its arbitration program is state-certified we go there before court.

How long does a lemon law claim take in Tennessee? +

Some claims settle within weeks and others take months, especially when the manufacturer wants its own inspection of the car. Most of the Tennessee cases we handle settle at the written-demand stage. The manufacturer's 10 days to cure come before that, and it helps to call us once you're close to 3 repair attempts rather than near the end of the 6 months.

Do days in the shop count as much as repair visits? +

They can, because 30 cumulative calendar days out of service is a route of its own in Tennessee, apart from the 3 repair attempts. A 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron in Texas only went in three times and still spent 166 days out of service. Its rear motor leaked coolant into the housing, so the dealer replaced the motor. After that the cruise control, the turn signals and the rear light bar started failing.

What if the dealer says it can't find the problem? +

It still pays to take the repair order, even when the technician finds nothing. A South Florida couple took their Kia Telluride back four times for a noise from the rear. No technician could find the cause. By the time they called us it had been out of service for more than 40 days, and Kia later bought it back. An intermittent defect can still qualify under the Tennessee lemon law if it substantially impairs the vehicle, but since the dealer may never see it happen, we build the proof from the repair records, what you tell us and sometimes a technical expert.

Can I still file if my warranty has expired? +

You may, if the defect got written up while the warranty was still active, because a defect reported then can still support a claim after the coverage ends. So we go looking for the oldest repair order that mentions it. The Tennessee filing deadline stays where it is, while Magnuson-Moss can cover defects outside the Tennessee lemon law period, and that is why we check the federal act on older cars too. When claims fail, it is usually because the defect was first reported after the Tennessee deadline or the repair orders never mention it.

Is a leased car covered by the Tennessee lemon law? +

Yes, a new car leased in Tennessee for personal, family, or household use is covered the same as one bought there. One of ours was a 2025 Toyota Tundra leased in North Dakota. It had a persistent cylinder 6 misfire, and Toyota recommended replacing the short block. The truck spent 135 days in the shop and then it was bought back for $53,364.14. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

What is a cash settlement, and do I have to give back my car? +

With a cash settlement you keep the car and the manufacturer pays you for the defect. With a buyback or a replacement the car goes back to the manufacturer. The 2025 Audi Q5 in Connecticut went back that way, bought back for $43,451.81, and so did our Tennessee client's Tundra. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Which remedy we go after comes down to Tennessee law, the facts, your choice and how the negotiations go.

What if my car doesn't meet the Tennessee repair count? +

There may be another route outside the Tennessee lemon law. Breach of warranty claims, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and Tennessee's unfair trade practices and consumer protection statutes can each reach a defect that falls short of 3 attempts or the 30 days. Then there are the UCC implied warranties. Merchantability under UCC §2-314 applies to sales of goods by merchants, used vehicles included, and it is a lower bar than the lemon law's substantial impairment, while fitness for a particular purpose under UCC §2-315 only comes in when a buyer relied on the seller's advice for a specific use, like towing.

Do you take cases against every manufacturer? +

We take cases against domestic and foreign brands, and our published results include Tesla, Audi, GMC, Chevrolet, Toyota and Jeep in several states. A 2024 Tesla Cybertruck in New York had 15 miles on it at delivery and then started losing brake pressure. Tesla tried to fix the brakes four times before it bought the truck back. When a manufacturer won't cooperate, our attorneys negotiate first and litigate when they have to.

What if my case is not successful? Are there hidden fees? +

If your case is not successful, you owe us no attorney's fee, though clients may be responsible for certain costs and expenses of the case, which can be deducted from a recovery under the written fee agreement.

Is there a lemon law lawyer in Memphis? +

Easy Lemon has no office in Memphis or anywhere else in Tennessee. Our lemon law lawyers work with Tennessee clients by phone, email and e-signature from offices in Manhasset NY, Newark NJ, Miami FL and Dallas TX, and someone in Memphis, Bartlett or Jackson uploads the repair orders, the purchase or lease contract and the warranty booklet the same way as someone in Johnson City. You get one assigned attorney with a direct line. Our lawyers practice only in the jurisdictions where they are licensed or have been authorized to practice.

How experienced is Easy Lemon? +

Founded in 2024, Easy Lemon is a consumer brand of RockPoint Law P.C., and our attorneys have 25+ years of combined experience. Ron Kaniuk, our Florida managing partner, has practiced law since 1997. We've represented 1,500+ clients in vehicle warranty disputes, and the Tennessee Tundra buyback is one of the published case studies on easylemon.com.

Still Have Questions?

Our team reviews every case individually. The fastest answer is a free consultation — no pressure, no commitment.

Arbitration Board

Tennessee Lemon Law Arbitration

Tennessee makes you use the manufacturer's arbitration program if that program is state-certified, so the first thing we check on a Tennessee file is which program the manufacturer runs and whether the state has certified it. General questions about these programs are answered in our lemon law FAQ.

Jurisdiction

When can a Tennessee arbitration program hear my case?

It can hear it once the repair history reaches 3 repair attempts for the same defect or 30 cumulative calendar days out of service inside the term of protection, and after the written notice to the manufacturer by certified mail, which the statute makes a prerequisite. The manufacturer then has up to 10 days to cure. If the defect is still there, we do the filing and send in the repair orders along with proof that the notice went out.

Decision

Is the arbitration decision final?

Often the manufacturer is bound by it, but the consumer generally keeps the right to appeal to civil court, and appeal deadlines vary, so we'd like a copy of the decision the day it arrives.

Timing

How long does it take?

The program sets its own schedule.

State vs Federal

Tennessee Lemon Law vs Federal Magnuson-Moss

Most Tennessee cases can go under both laws, so we review each one under Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112 and under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. §2301) and lead with the stronger one.

State

Tennessee Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act

Tennessee has the repair presumption and the buyback remedy, but only for new motor vehicles purchased or leased in Tennessee for personal, family, or household use, and the defect has to last through 3 repair attempts for the same defect or 30 cumulative calendar days out of service inside the term of protection. You then have to file within 6 months following the later of the express warranty term expiring or 1 year from original delivery, and if the manufacturer's arbitration program is state-certified you have to go through it, while a consumer who prevails can recover attorney fees.

Federal

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

Where Tennessee counts 3 attempts or 30 days, the federal act just asks for a "reasonable number" of repair attempts, and what's reasonable depends on the facts. Its time limit is the length of the express warranty, so it can reach defects outside the Tennessee lemon law period, and it applies to any product under a written warranty, which is why used cars often qualify. Tennessee may send you to a state-certified program first, but federal law requires arbitration before a lawsuit only if the written warranty makes you use a program that meets FTC rules, and fees under the act come from 15 U.S.C. §2310(d)(2).

Our client's Tundra claim was brought under the Tennessee lemon law, and a case under either law can be filed in state or federal court.

Practitioner Answers

Tennessee Lemon Law: Statute-Cited Answers

Which Tennessee court hears a lemon law lawsuit if arbitration fails?

If arbitration doesn't resolve it, either side can file a civil suit, usually in the Tennessee county where you live or where the car was sold, and Circuit Courts are courts of general jurisdiction in Tennessee. Memphis is in Shelby County, which has its own Circuit Court, and Knoxville is in Knox County, Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Clarksville in Montgomery County, Murfreesboro in Rutherford County, Gallatin in Sumner County and Brentwood in Williamson County, each with its own Circuit Court, which for Williamson County is the Circuit Court of the 21st Judicial District. Johnson City is split, per the 2020 Census, between Carter, Sullivan and Washington Counties, Kingsport between Hawkins and Sullivan, and Oak Ridge between Anderson and Roane, and every one of those counties has its own Circuit Court. A Magnuson-Moss claim can also go to Federal District Court if damages are over $50,000 or party diversity permits it (15 U.S.C. §2310(d)(1)). In the end, which court hears a particular case still depends on its facts, the warranty issues involved and the law it is brought under.

What do Tennessee lemon law attorneys need from you?

The repair orders come first, every one of them, including visits where the technician found nothing. The repair history in our client's Tundra file recorded the leak down test and the new cylinder heads, and the rest of the checklist is short.

the purchase or lease contract, which shows the delivery date the 1 year runs from
the warranty booklet, which shows the express warranty term
emails, texts and letters with the dealer or manufacturer
receipts for towing, rentals and lodging, since those costs are often recoverable

It helps to note the date, the mileage and the symptom each time the problem shows up.

Do I have to send notice by certified mail?

Yes, Tenn. Code ch. 55-24 requires written notice to the manufacturer by certified mail, after which the manufacturer has up to 10 days to cure.

How is the buyback mileage offset calculated in Tennessee?

The manufacturer takes a reasonable use offset out of a Tennessee refund, and we check its math before anything gets signed, because each state counts those miles its own way and a smaller divisor means a bigger deduction. A common formula takes your mileage, divides it by the car's useful life, usually 100,000 to 120,000 miles, and multiplies that by the purchase price. Registration, taxes and finance charges usually come back in the refund, and so do towing or rental costs, while attorney fees are paid apart from the buyback.

What defects count under Tennessee lemon laws?

A defect counts when it substantially impairs the use, market value or safety of the vehicle, so scratches and small paint flaws usually don't. Our client's Tundra was hesitant to start and had coolant dumping on the cylinder head. A 2022 Jeep Wrangler we handled in South Carolina started pulling right with a vibration at 186 miles, and later it developed the "death wobble". Otherwise what Tennessee drivers bring us most is engine stalling and misfires, transmission shudder or failure, electrical faults that leave warning lights on, brake and steering problems, and driver-assistance (ADAS) systems that brake or drift on their own.

Statewide Coverage

Serving Drivers Across All of Tennessee

Easy Lemon represents Tennessee consumers from Memphis to the Smokies. We handle Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112 cases remotely, regardless of city or county.

NashvilleMemphis Knoxville Chattanooga Clarksville MurfreesboroFranklinJacksonJohnson CityBartlettAll areas →

Reviewed by Steven P. Nassi, Esq. · Managing Partner, Easy Lemon by RockPoint Law P.C. · Last updated August 6, 2026 Sources: Tennessee Statutes, Tenn. Code §55-24-101 to §55-24-112, Tennessee Attorney General, FTC Magnuson-Moss, NHTSA Recall Lookup, FTC Lemon Law Guide, Cornell Law, 15 USC Ch. 50, State Attorneys General (USA.gov). ATTORNEY ADVERTISING under Tennessee professional rules. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

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