2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Lemon Law Buyback in Massachusetts
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Our client leased a new 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander in Massachusetts in May 2025. It came back with a roof glass rattle, repeated dash noises, a reported transmission hesitation and finally a no-start, no-shift failure. After 4 repair visits and 50 days out of service, Toyota repurchased it for a total of $61,535.
The vehicle and its defects
This Grand Highlander was leased new on May 30, 2025, with 106 miles on it. The first repair visit opened on June 10, 2025.
Noise was the early complaint. A rattle at the front traced back to the sliding roof glass, and then the center dash screen area started making noise over bumps. The owner later reported a transmission hesitation when pulling away from a stop. By September the SUV would not start and would not engage drive or reverse, and technicians reproduced both problems.
| Vehicle | 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander |
|---|---|
| State | Massachusetts |
| Purchase | Leased new, May 2025 |
| Repair visits | 4 |
| Days out of service | 50 |
| Resolution | Buyback, settled January 2026 |
| Total | $61,535 |
The repair record
The record lists 4 repair visits between June and September 2025 and 50 days out of service. The mileage shown in this file is 2,142.
- June 10-30, 2025
The owner reported a rattle from the front of the vehicle. Technicians confirmed it and found the sliding roof glass was cross-threaded, so they replaced the glass and its hardware. They also re-tapped the threads in the sliding roof frame and tightened a loose bolt.
- July 7-9, 2025
The owner came back about a noise from the center dash screen area when driving over bumps. The record for this visit lists only the complaint.
- July 14-16, 2025
The center dash noise from the prior visit returned. Technicians verified it and put felt strips on every part that touched the radio. The owner also reported a possible transmission hesitation when accelerating from a stop.
- September 17, 2025–Present
A popping noise from the dashboard was reported. The SUV also would not start, and it would not go into drive or reverse. Technicians duplicated both problems, and the record lists this visit as ongoing.
Massachusetts Lemon Law - New Motor Vehicle Arbitration and federal warranty law
Massachusetts handles these claims under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, §7N½, its lemon law for new motor vehicles bought or leased in the state for personal, family or household use. A vehicle can qualify after 3 repair attempts for the same defect or after 15 cumulative business days out of service. The defect has to be reported within 1 year or 15,000 miles, and every complaint here came within months of delivery and under 2,142 miles. The record showed 4 repair visits and 50 days out of service, with dash-area noises on 3 of those visits, which is the kind of record the 3-attempt and 15-business-day tests look at. Remedies are a refund or a replacement, less a reasonable offset for use, and a consumer who prevails recovers attorney fees. The state runs its own arbitration program through the Office of Consumer Affairs, and an owner can request it within 18 months of delivery.
Alongside the state law sits the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.), the federal law governing written warranties. It may allow an owner who prevails to recover attorney fees as well.
- Statute
- Massachusetts Lemon Law - New Motor Vehicle Arbitration, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, §7N½
- Repair test
- 3 repair attempts for the same defect, or 15 cumulative business days out of service
- Time limit
- Within 18 months from original delivery to request state arbitration (defects must first be reported within 1 year or 15,000 miles, whichever comes first)
- Federal law
- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.
More on Massachusetts: Massachusetts lemon law attorney page and how to file a lemon law claim in Massachusetts.
How RockPoint built the claim
The claim depended on how fast and how frequently this SUV returned to the dealership. The file shows just 2,142 miles, yet the vehicle had 4 repair visits and 50 days out of service. The center dash noise reported in early July came back on the next visit, which gave the record a clear repeat defect.
The last visit carried the most weight. A vehicle that will not start or go into gear cannot be driven, and the dealer's technicians confirmed both failures themselves.
The outcome
In January 2026 the claim settled with a buyback, and Toyota repurchased the Grand Highlander. The total value of the resolution was $61,535 ($61,535.26 to the cent). It covered the lease payoff, the amount paid to our client and attorney fees.
Questions about this case
Three attempts to fix the same defect, or 15 cumulative business days out of service, can qualify a new vehicle. This Grand Highlander had 4 repair visits and 50 days out of service.
Yes. The law covers new motor vehicles purchased or leased in Massachusetts for personal, family or household use. Our client leased this SUV new.
Defects must first be reported within 1 year or 15,000 miles, whichever comes first. A request for state arbitration has to be made within 18 months of original delivery.
The state program binds the manufacturer. Consumers have the option of rejecting that decision and taking their case to court instead. This claim was resolved as a Toyota buyback in January 2026.
The buyback had a total value of $61,535. That amount covered the lease payoff, the payment to our client and attorney fees.
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