Massachusetts Lemon Law Summary
STANDARDS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS LEMON LAW
The following is a brief explanation of most relevant provisions of the Massachusetts
lemon law. The complete text of the lemon law can be found at General Laws Chapter
90, Section 7N½.
VEHICLES COVERED
The Massachusetts lemon law covers motor vehicles and motorcycles sold, leased, or
replaced by a dealer or manufacturer. The lemon law covers used vehicles sold or leased
within the term of protection, but does not cover auto homes, vehicles built primarily for
off-road use, or any vehicle used primarily for business purposes.
CONSUMERS COVERED
The lemon law covers the following consumers:
1. The purchaser or lessee, other than for purposes other than resale, of a motor
vehicle;
2. Any person to whom the motor vehicle is transferred during any express or implied
warranty period; and
3. Any other person entitled by the terms of the warranty to enforce its obligations.
VEHICLE CONVERTERS
The lemon law does not apply to vehicle converters.
PROBLEMS COVERED
The lemon law covers v ehicle nonconformities. A nonconformity is defined as any
specific or generic defect or malfunction, or any concurrent combination of defects or
malfunctions, that substantially impairs the use, market value or safety of the motor
vehicle.
It is an affirmative defense that a nonconformity is the result of owner negligence;
damage caused by accident; vandalism; attempt to repair the vehicle by a person other
than the manufacturer, its agent, or an authorized dealer; or any attempt to
substantially modify the vehicle that was not authorized by the manufacturer.
TERM OF PROTECTION
The lemon law defines the term of protection to be one year of 15,000 miles of use from
the date of original delivery of a new motor vehicle, whichever comes first. In the case of
a replacement vehicle, the term is one year or 15,000 miles from the date of delivery to
the consumer of the replacement vehicle, whichever comes first.
More at: bbb.org/us/auto-line/state-lemon-laws/
