US FederalWhat is a lemon law at the federal level?
The federal lemon law is the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which enforces written warranties on consumer products costing $10 or more and gives consumers the right to sue for breach of warranty.
What the Law Says
The only federal lemon law is the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, enacted in 1975. It does not define 'lemon' or mandate specific repair attempts or timeframes like state laws do — instead, it regulates how warranties are written and enforced, and gives consumers a legal tool to enforce them.
The Act applies to any written warranty on a consumer product costing $10 or more. It requires warrantors to clearly disclose warranty terms and prohibits disclaiming implied warranties if a written warranty is offered.
It empowers consumers to sue in federal or state court for breach of warranty — and allows recovery of attorney’s fees if they prevail, making it easier to find legal representation.
Unlike state lemon laws, Magnuson-Moss does not require a set number of repair attempts or a specific timeframe (e.g., 30 days out of service). Its focus is on warranty transparency and enforcement, not vehicle-specific remedies.
Statutory TextA written warranty … on a consumer product costing more than $10.
— Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2301(6) — Definitions
Statutory TextNo warrantor of a consumer product may disclaim or modify … any implied warranty … if such warrantor makes any written warranty …
— Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2304(a)(2)
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.