Tennessee Lemon Law FAQ

Common questions about Tennessee lemon-law claims.

Quick answers

• When is a car a lemon in Tennessee? — 3 attempts OR 30 calendar days OOS within the 1-year Rights Period.
• Do I need a lawyer? — BBB Auto Line works DIY; court action with TCPA requires counsel.
• How much does it cost? — Permissive § 55-24-108 plus mandatory TCPA § 47-18-109(e)(1) fees mean most cases are no-fee-out-of-pocket.
• Used vehicle coverage? — Not under § 55-24-101; Magnuson-Moss + TCPA + UCC remain.
• Manufacturer denied my claim — now what? — Use BBB Auto Line; if denied, court action with TCPA.
• Does it matter which repair shop I use? — Yes — must be manufacturer-authorized.
• How long do I have to file? — Tight: 1-year Rights Period; 1-year TCPA SOL; 4-year Magnuson-Moss / UCC.

Topics in this section

• When is a car a lemon
• Do I need a lawyer
• How much does it cost
• Used vehicle coverage
• Manufacturer denied my claim
• Which repair shop
• How long do I have

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Topic

Manufacturer Case Patterns in Tennessee

Common Tennessee lemon-law case patterns by manufacturer — Nissan (Smyrna home plant), VW (Chattanooga ID.4 plant), GM (Spring Hill LYRIQ plant), Ford, Stellantis, Toyota.

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The Process: Filing a Tennessee Lemon Law Claim

The step-by-step Tennessee lemon-law process — repair attempts, written notice, BBB Auto Line IDS, court action, and TCPA-parallel claims.

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Qualifying Defects: What Counts as a Lemon in Tennessee

Defect categories that meet Tennessee's 'substantially impair use, market value, or safety' test under § 55-24-101.

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Remedies: What You Can Recover Under Tennessee Lemon Law

Refund, replacement, TCPA treble damages, and the § 55-24-108 + § 47-18-109(e)(1) attorney fees recovery.

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The Law: Tennessee Lemon Law, TCPA, and Magnuson-Moss

The statutes behind a Tennessee lemon-law claim — § 55-24-101 Lemon Law, TCPA (§ 47-18-101 et seq.) treble damages and 1-year SOL, Magnuson-Moss, and timing rules.

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Vehicle Types Covered Under Tennessee Lemon Law

How Tennessee's Lemon Law applies to used vehicles, leases, EVs (VW Chattanooga and GM Spring Hill plants!), motorcycles, RVs, and commercial vehicles.

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