Commercial Vehicles Under Tennessee Lemon Law
Commercial-vehicle coverage under Tennessee § 55-24-101 — 10,000 lbs GVWR cap, commercial-use exclusion, and Magnuson-Moss alternative.
Commercial-use vehicles face limited coverage under Tennessee’s Lemon Law (§ 55-24-101). The statute excludes vehicles above 10,000 lbs GVWR and vehicles purchased for commercial-only use.
§ 55-24-101 exclusions
Section 55-24-101 excludes:
- Vehicles above 10,000 lbs GVWR.
- Vehicles purchased for commercial use (not personal/family/household).
- Motor homes above 10,000 lbs (except chassis).
Common exclusion lines
- Ford F-450, F-550, F-650/750 — typically above 10,000 lbs GVWR.
- Ram 4500, 5500 — above 10K.
- GM Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, 6500HD — above 10K.
- Class C / Class A motor home chassis — above 10K.
- Cargo vans (Sprinter, ProMaster, Transit 350 HD) — varies; often above 10K.
Mixed-use vehicles
For vehicles used both personally and commercially:
- Personal predominant use — § 55-24-101 may apply.
- Commercial predominant use — § 55-24-101 excluded.
- Determining factor: actual use, not stated intent at purchase.
Alternative remedies for excluded vehicles
For commercial-use or >10K GVWR vehicles:
- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act — applies regardless of GVWR.
- UCC § 47-2-313 / § 47-2-314 — express + implied warranties under Tennessee UCC.
- TCPA § 47-18-101 et seq. — applies to commercial transactions (though some limitations).
TCPA in commercial cases
TCPA generally applies to commercial transactions where the deceptive practice has consumer impact. Tennessee courts have allowed TCPA claims in commercial-vehicle dealer fraud cases.
Strategic considerations
- Commercial vehicle owners should plead Magnuson-Moss + UCC + TCPA where Lemon Law doesn’t apply.
- D. Tenn. federal venue is often preferred for commercial cases due to Magnuson-Moss jurisdiction.
- Discovery is broader in commercial cases.
Tennessee commercial-vehicle market
- Trucking corridors — I-40, I-65, I-75, I-24.
- FedEx Memphis World Hub — Memphis-based commercial fleet.
- Nashville logistics market — growth in last-mile delivery.
- Construction + agriculture in middle and west TN.
Bottom line
Commercial vehicles above 10K GVWR are typically excluded from § 55-24-101. Magnuson-Moss + UCC + TCPA remain available. Mixed-use vehicles require fact-specific analysis.
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Read → ArticleRVs Under Tennessee Lemon Law
How Tennessee Lemon Law applies to RVs — chassis only; motor home coaches typically not covered by § 55-24-101.
Read → ArticleUsed Vehicles Under Tennessee Lemon Law
Used vehicles are NOT covered by Tennessee's § 55-24-101 Lemon Law. Magnuson-Moss, TCPA, and UCC remain available.
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