Demand Letter Under Michigan Lemon Law

If you want to pursue a claim under Michigan's Lemon Law, you must first send a notification to the manufacturer and give them one last chance to repair the vehicle. You should send this letter after the third repair attempt or after the vehicle is out of service for a cumulative total of 25 days or parts of days. According to the law, the demand letter must be sent by certified mail, with a return receipt requested.

Once you send the letter, the manufacturer must make a final repair attempt. The manufacturer will tell you where to take the vehicle, and they have five days to fix the problem. If the problem still isn't fixed, you must enter into the manufacturer's informal dispute resolution process. You can accept the findings of the arbitrator, or you can reject them and go to court.

Sample Demand Letter

[Your name]
[Your address]
[Your telephone number]
[Date]

[Name of manufacturer]
[Manufacturer's address]

I believe that my vehicle is a "lemon" under MCL Section 257.1401 — 257.1410. I am hereby making a written demand for final repair under this Act.

I [purchased] a [make, model, year of vehicle] on [date] from [name of dealership] in [city, state]. Since buying the vehicle, I have had to return it to the dealership a total of [number] times. My vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a total of [number of calendar days] calendar days.

My vehicle has been in [authorized dealership] on the following dates for repair of the following defects:

[date in/out] [list problems]

I am currently having the following problems with my vehicle:

[list current problems]

Since these defects substantially impair the use, value, or safety of my vehicle, I am hereby allowing you one final opportunity to repair my vehicle.

Sincerely,
[Your name]