GM & Ford Lemon Law Claims in Michigan: A 2025 Guide
You live in the Motor City. Detroit is home to General Motors. Dearborn is where Ford was born. Michigan’s identity is built on the automotive industry—and for generations, that meant buying American, buying local, and trusting the brands that built this state. But what happens when the Silverado you bought at your local Chevy dealer keeps breaking down? When your F-150 Lightning won’t charge? When GM’s recall “fix” didn’t actually fix anything? You still have rights. Even in Michigan—headquarters to the automakers themselves—consumers are protected by state lemon law. And if GM or Ford can’t repair your vehicle after a reasonable number of attempts, they owe you a refund, replacement, or compensation. This guide is specifically for Michigan residents dealing with defective GM or Ford vehicles. Our Lemon Law Michigan Attorneys are ready to help. We’ll cover Michigan’s lemon law, the major GM and Ford recalls, what to do if a recall didn’t solve your problem, and how to hold these manufacturers accountable—even in their own backyard. Michigan’s Lemon Law: The Basics Michigan’s lemon law is found in the Motor Vehicle Warranty Act (Act 87 of 1986). According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), lemon laws exist to protect consumers from defective vehicles that manufacturers fail to repair within a reasonable number of attempts. Protection Window Your vehicle is covered if defects appear within the first year of ownership or during the full term of the manufacturer’s written warranty (whichever provides longer coverage). Most GM and Ford vehicles come with a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, so in practice, you’re protected during that full warranty period if you meet other requirements. The 4-Repair-Attempt Rule Michigan law presumes your vehicle is a lemon if the manufacturer or dealer has attempted to repair the same defect four or more times and the problem still isn’t fixed. The 30-Day Rule Alternatively, your vehicle qualifies if it’s been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days for warranty repairs. These days don’t have to be consecutive—you can add up all the time your vehicle has spent in the shop. What You’re Entitled To If your vehicle qualifies, the manufacturer must refund the full purchase price (minus a mileage offset) or provide a comparable replacement vehicle. Fee-Shifting Provision Michigan’s law includes attorney fee-shifting. If you win your case, GM or Ford pays all your attorney’s fees. You pay nothing out of pocket. GM’s 6.2L V8 Engine Recall: What Michigan Owners Need to Know In 2024 and 2025, General Motors issued a massive recall affecting the 6.2L V8 engine—one of the most popular powertrains in GM’s truck and SUV lineup. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fuel pump module defects in these engines have posed serious safety risks, including engine stall at highway speeds. Which Vehicles Are Affected? • Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (2019–2024) • GMC Sierra 1500 (2019–2024) • Chevrolet Tahoe (2021–2024) • Chevrolet Suburban (2021–2024) • GMC Yukon (2021–2024) • GMC Yukon XL (2021–2024) • Cadillac Escalade (2021–2024) • Cadillac Escalade ESV (2021–2024) What’s the Problem? The recall addresses fuel pump module failures that can cause engine stalling while driving, loss of power, inability to restart the vehicle, check engine light illumination, and rough idling or hesitation. In severe cases, the engine can shut down completely at highway speeds—a serious safety hazard. The Recall Fix GM’s recall involves replacing the fuel pump control module. Dealers are instructed to inspect the fuel pump module, replace the module if defective, and update vehicle software. What If the Recall Didn’t Fix Your Problem? A recall repair is not a magic solution. If you had your vehicle in for fuel pump issues before the recall was announced, complied with the recall but the problem persists, or are experiencing new fuel system issues after the recall repair, you may have a lemon law claim. Each service visit—before and after the recall—counts as a repair attempt. If GM can’t fix the issue after four attempts total, Michigan law says you’re entitled to relief. Ford F-150 Lightning: Battery and Charging System Issues Ford’s F-150 Lightning is the company’s flagship electric truck, built right here in Michigan at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn. But the Lightning has experienced significant growing pains. For a deeper look at how electric vehicles are covered under state law, see our guide: EVs Under Michigan Lemon Law: Your Rights. Common F-150 Lightning Defects Battery Management System Failures • Sudden loss of charge • Battery won’t charge beyond a certain percentage • Inaccurate range estimates • Battery overheating warnings Charging Port Defects • DC fast charging doesn’t work or charges extremely slowly • Charging port door won’t open or close • Charging cable won’t release from the port • Error messages when attempting to charge Software and Infotainment Crashes • SYNC 4A system freezes or reboots • Loss of critical vehicle information (range, speed, battery status) • Navigation and climate controls become unresponsive Power Loss While Driving • Truck suddenly loses power and enters reduced power mode • Inability to accelerate • Complete shutdown requiring a restart Ford’s Response Ford has issued several technical service bulletins (TSBs) and over-the-air software updates addressing Lightning issues. However, software updates don’t always resolve hardware defects. If your Lightning has been back to the dealer multiple times for the same issue, and Ford’s updates haven’t fixed it, you may have a lemon law case. Chevy Bolt EV: Battery Recall History and Ongoing Issues The Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV were among GM’s most popular electric vehicles—until a massive battery recall. The Battery Fire Recall In 2020–2021, GM recalled every Chevy Bolt ever