How do I get a refund or warranty repair in Michigan for a defective product or denied service?
In Michigan, statutes provide several remedies when a product is defective or promised service is denied. For consumer goods sold through an unlawful trade practice, a buyer may rescind the sale and recover payments in some cases, and courts can award damages and fees for violations of consumer-protection statutes. For new motor vehicles, a statute gives specific remedies if a defect persists after a reasonable number of repairs, including replacement or return and refund. Federal warranty rules also affect written warranties and dispute procedures for consumer products.
Which remedy applies depends on the product and the facts: whether the issue is a consumer trade-practice violation, a service-dealer misrepresentation, a vehicle lemon law claim, or a breach of a written warranty. Common outcomes available under Michigan law include refund or repair, rescission of the sale, recovery of actual damages, and, in some statutes, attorney fees and enhanced damages for willful violations.
Current Michigan law
Every answer cites the statute
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The deadline that matters
The right of rescission under the state statute must be exercised within 8 months of the date of the sale.
What Michigan law says
The law provides several paths for relief: under Mich. Comp. Laws § 445.108 a buyer who discovers an unlawful trade practice may rescind the sale and recover payments, if exercised within the statutory period. Remedies and attorney fees may be available under Mich. Comp. Laws § 445.1087 when a manufacturer or seller violates consumer-protection laws. Service dealers who make false statements about repairs or fail required disclosures face remedies under Mich. Comp. Laws § 445.837, including actual damages and possible attorney fees. For new motor vehicles, if a reported defect persists after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must, within 30 days, replace the vehicle or accept return and refund the purchase price under Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.1403. Federal warranty law also governs dispute procedures for written warranties: see 15 U.S.C. § 2310.
What to do
A common first step is to contact the seller or manufacturer and describe the defect, requesting repair, replacement, or refund in writing.
A common next step is to send a clear demand letter to the seller or manufacturer describing the defect, prior repair attempts, and the remedy sought.
A common option is to use any warranty dispute procedure that is part of the written warranty, keeping copies of all communications and repair records.
A common step in vehicle cases is to document repair attempts and, if the defect persists after a reasonable number of repairs, seek the statutory replacement or refund remedy.
A common later step is to consider bringing a lawsuit or a consumer-protection claim seeking damages and fees under the applicable Michigan statutes if informal steps fail.
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Common questions
Can I get attorney fees if a seller violates Michigan consumer statutes?
In some statutes the court may award costs and reasonable attorney fees; for example, Mich. Comp. Laws § 445.1087 authorizes recovery of costs and reasonable attorney fees if a manufacturer is found to have violated that statute.
What if a repair shop made a false statement about needed repairs?
A service dealer who makes a false statement likely to induce authorization of repairs or who fails to comply with disclosure requirements may be liable for actual damages and attorney fees under Mich. Comp. Laws § 445.837.
Does Michigan have a lemon law for new cars?
Yes. If a defect reported to the manufacturer continues after a reasonable number of repairs, the manufacturer must, within 30 days, replace the vehicle or accept return and refund the purchase price under Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.1403.
Do federal warranty rules affect my state remedies?
Federal warranty law (15 U.S.C. § 2310) addresses procedures for written warranties and dispute settlement mechanisms; it operates alongside state remedies and can affect required warranty dispute processes.
Every legal statement on this page links to the primary source, verified against CiteLaw's corpus. This page updates automatically when the law changes.
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This page provides legal information about Michigan law, not legal advice. CiteLaw is not a law firm and does not represent you. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
