Michigan Lemon Law and Your Ford F-150: What Every Truck Owner Needs to Know
Buying a new Ford F-150 is a big investment, especially for Michigan drivers who rely on their trucks for work, family, or outdoor adventures. When your Ford F-150 starts showing serious defects early on, it can disrupt your life and cost you time and money. Thankfully, Michigan’s Lemon Law offers protections to help you get relief when your truck doesn’t perform as promised.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the Michigan Lemon Law as it relates to the Ford F-150 — including qualifying defects, repair attempts, and how to protect your rights.
What Is the Michigan Lemon Law?
Michigan’s Lemon Law is designed to protect consumers who purchase or lease new vehicles that have substantial defects that impair the vehicle’s use, safety, or value. The law applies primarily to vehicles bought or leased for personal, family, or household use — not for commercial or business use.
If your new Ford F-150 has a defect that the dealer cannot fix after a reasonable number of repair attempts, you may be entitled to a replacement vehicle or a refund.
Who Is Covered by the Michigan Lemon Law?
The Lemon Law covers:
• New vehicles purchased or leased in Michigan for personal use
• Trucks like the Ford F-150 that are primarily used for personal or family purposes
• Vehicles still under the manufacturer’s original warranty
Note that the Lemon Law does not cover used vehicles or vehicles purchased for business purposes, such as commercial fleets or contractor trucks.
Common Ford F-150 Defects That May Qualify Under Michigan Lemon Law
Ford F-150 owners have reported a range of recurring problems that can significantly impair the truck’s performance, including:
• Transmission hesitation or failure: Gear slipping, delayed engagement, or complete transmission failure can be dangerous and costly to fix.
• Engine issues: Stalling, misfires, rough idling, or loss of power can compromise safety and drivability.
• Electrical system problems: Faulty wiring, sensor failures, or dashboard warning lights can make the truck unreliable.
• Brake system defects: Premature wear, failure to engage, or unexpected noises can create serious safety risks.
• Fuel system defects: Problems with fuel pumps or injectors that affect engine performance or cause leaks.
If these defects persist after multiple repairs, your Ford F-150 could qualify as a lemon under Michigan law. There are obviously many more potential defects with the Ford F150, but the above are some examples of problems.
How Many Repair Attempts Does It Take To Qualify?
Michigan law presumes a “reasonable number” of repair attempts to be:
• At least four attempts to repair the same defect, or
• The vehicle is out of service for 30 or more cumulative days (within one year from original delivery) due to repairs.
Keep detailed records of every repair visit, including dates, issues reported, and repair orders. This documentation is crucial for supporting your lemon law claim.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Your Ford F-150 Is a Lemon?
Report Problems Promptly: Contact your Ford dealer as soon as you notice a defect. Give them a chance to fix it under warranty.
Document Everything: Save all repair orders, receipts, and correspondence with the dealer and manufacturer.
Keep Track of Repairs: Note the number of repair attempts and days your truck is out of service.
Consult a Lemon Law Attorney: An experienced Michigan lemon law lawyer can review your case, help you gather evidence and negotiate with manufacturers on your behalf.
Why Hire a Michigan Lemon Law Attorney?
Lemon law claims can be complex. Manufacturers and dealers often resist refunding or replacing vehicles. Having a skilled attorney can:
• Help you understand your rights under Michigan law
• Organize repair records and evidence to build a strong case
• Negotiate directly with Ford or their representatives
• Pursue litigation if a fair settlement isn’t offered
Attorneys experienced in lemon law claims involving Ford trucks can make a significant difference in the outcome.
Recent Ford F-150 Recall and Service Bulletin Highlights in Michigan
Keeping up with recalls and service bulletins can also impact your lemon law case. For example, some recent Ford F-150 models have been subject to:
• Recalls related to transmission software updates
• Service bulletins addressing engine misfire or rough idle issues
• Brake system component inspections
If your truck is affected by a recall, be sure to have those repairs done promptly at the dealer and document all related work.
For your reference, here are some specific recalls and technical service bulletins (TSBs) that have affected 2021–2024 Ford F-150 trucks and may relate to common issues:
Recalls:
Recall 22V-594: Transmission software update to address hard shifting or hesitation issues on certain 2021-2022 F-150 models. Source: NHTSA.gov
Recall 23V-103: Brake system inspection due to potential premature wear of brake components causing noise or reduced performance. Applies to select 2022-2023 F-150 trucks.
Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs):
TSB 21-0134: Addresses intermittent engine misfire or rough idle conditions in 2021-2023 F-150 models. Includes updated PCM programming.
TSB 23-0456: Powertrain vibration and noise diagnosis and repair procedures for 2023 F-150.
TSB 22-0667: Electrical system diagnostics for infotainment system glitches or battery drain issues.
Check Your Truck:
To verify if your specific Ford F-150 is affected by recalls, enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at the NHTSA recall lookup tool. Promptly addressing recalls can protect your safety and strengthen your lemon law case.
What Remedies Are Available Under Michigan Lemon Law?
If your Ford F-150 qualifies as a lemon, you may be entitled to:
• A full refund of the purchase price, minus a reasonable allowance for use
• A replacement vehicle of comparable value
• Reimbursement for incidental costs related to the defect (like towing or rental car fees)
Each case is unique, so the exact remedy depends on your circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Lemon Law and Ford F-150 Trucks
Q: Does the lemon law cover used Ford F-150 trucks?
A: No, the law generally applies only to new vehicles still under warranty. There can be some limited exceptions to this, but typically, the law is designed to assist new car purchases.
Q: What if the defect is intermittent and hard to replicate?
A: Keep detailed records and continue to notify the dealer. An attorney can help prove your claim with expert evidence.
Q: Can I handle a lemon law claim myself?
A: You can try, but manufacturers have legal teams. An attorney can level the playing field. Moreover, the manufacturer is responsible to pay attorney fees in successful claims. An experienced attorney will typically not ask you for a fee in these cases, since the manufacturer should include it in any settlement.
Final Thoughts
If your new Ford F-150 in Michigan is giving you repeated trouble and the dealer can’t fix the problem after multiple attempts, the Michigan Lemon Law could offer you important protections. Protect your investment by tracking repairs, knowing your rights, and consulting with a lemon law attorney who specializes in Ford trucks.