Commercial Vehicles Under Michigan Lemon Law

Michigan’s Lemon Law covers vehicles used primarily for personal, family, or household use. Coverage is defined by body type — passenger vehicles, SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans — and the “motor vehicle” definition in MCL § 257.1401 excludes buses and trucks other than pickups and vans. There is no GVWR weight cap; heavier trucks fall outside coverage because of their body type, not a stated weight threshold. Vehicles used primarily for business are also generally outside the personal-use coverage.

For commercial-use vehicles, Magnuson-Moss provides the primary remedy with mandatory § 2310(d)(2) attorney fees. MCPA has limited reach post-Smith v. Globe Life.

Who’s covered

Michigan Lemon Law tends to focus on mixed-use, self-employed, and small business vehicles with significant personal-use components — as long as the vehicle is a covered body type (passenger vehicle, SUV, pickup, or van).

Common commercial-vehicle defect categories

Same patterns as for personal vehicles.

Where Magnuson-Moss applies

Magnuson-Moss provides:

• Actual damages.
• Mandatory § 2310(d)(2) attorney fees.
• Federal-court access (E.D. or W.D. Mich.) for amounts over $50K.
• 4-year limitations.

Magnuson-Moss reaches commercial transactions when the warranty is on a “consumer product” — vehicles purchased for personal or family use even if occasionally used commercially typically qualify.

Consequential damages — lost business

Lost business income recoverable as consequential damages under Magnuson-Moss.

Substitute vehicle costs

Recoverable as incidental damages.

What manufacturers typically argue

• “Purely commercial; Magnuson-Moss doesn’t apply.”
• “Heavy truck — not a pickup or van; excluded from the Lemon Law.”
• “Operator abuse.”
• “Overloading.”

What you should do

1. Determine usage pattern.
2. Confirm body type (pickup/van vs. excluded heavy truck or bus).
3. Pull every repair order.
4. Quantify lost business income.
5. Document substitute-vehicle costs.
6. File Magnuson-Moss federal action if applicable.
7. Get a free case review.

For Michigan commercial cases, Magnuson-Moss with its mandatory federal attorney fees is typically the strongest avenue.

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