Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. 2301 and following sections, is the main federal law on consumer product warranties. It does not force companies to offer a warranty, but if they do offer a written one, the Federal Trade Commission's rules require them to disclose its terms clearly, label it "full" or "limited," and make it available before the sale. The Act also limits a seller's ability to disclaim implied warranties, such as the basic promise that a product works for its ordinary purpose, when it offers a written warranty or a service contract.

The Act gives consumers a right to sue for breach of warranty and lets courts award attorneys' fees to a winning consumer, which makes small claims worth bringing. There are limits on federal court access. Under 15 U.S.C. 2310(d)(3), a Magnuson-Moss claim can go to federal court only if each individual claim is at least $25, the total amount in controversy is at least $50,000, and, for a class action, there are at least 100 named plaintiffs. Cases that do not meet those thresholds can still be filed in state court.

Many defect class actions include a Magnuson-Moss count alongside state warranty and consumer protection claims. Typical targets include appliances that fail early, vehicles with known defects, and companies that void warranties if customers use third-party parts or repair shops. The FTC has said that conditioning a warranty on using a particular brand of parts is generally prohibited unless the part is provided free.

Keep your receipt, warranty, and repair records. See the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act explainer, the LG refrigerator lawsuit, and our lemon law guide.