Legal Question in Criminal Law in Tennessee

Merely defaulting on a car loan is a civil offense.

You can be sued, subject to other requirements (such as statute of limitations and exceptions) but you cannot be sentenced to jail for non-payment of debts.

If the default was also accompanied by a criminal act (such as taking mortgaged property out of state or hindering a secured creditor), then criminal charges can be brought -- or could have been brought -- but again, subject to the statute of limitations.