Minnesota Passes First Farm Tractor Lemon Law

Minnesota Passes First Farm Tractor Lemon Law TRACTORS Miscellaneous 10-3-5 This spring Minnesota became the first state in the nation to pass a farm tractor lemon law that's similar to laws in 39 states covering cars and trucks. The bill, which pertains to tractors sold after January, 1987, says that the buyer must give the dealer written notice of the problem. If the problem hasn't been fixed after four or more repair attempts, or if the vehicle is out of commission for 60 days or more, the buyer then has the option of receiving a replacement tractor or a refund of the total purchase price. Manufacturers are required to give buyers a written notice of their rights under the lemon law at the time of purchase. The protection applies only to new tractors and only covers warranty defects. The bill also covers other self-propelled farm equipment such as combines, forage harvesters and swathers. For such self-propelled equipment, however, lemon law coverage is limited to the engine and power train, according to assistant attorney general Bob Marcroft, who helped draft the bill. "It's similar to coverage of recreational vehicles under auto lemon laws. The laws don't cover the entire machine," he told FARM SHOW. For more information, or a copy of the law, call the Minnesota Attorney General's office at 612 296-3353.

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