What Is California Lemon Law? Know Your Lemon Vehicle Rights
What Is California Lemon Law? Know Your Lemon Vehicle Rights
Blog Article
What Is California Lemon Law? Understand the Basics Before Filing a Claim
If you recently purchased or leased a new vehicle only to find it riddled with persistent defects, you might be dealing with a lemon vehicle. Navigating the frustration and confusion that come with a faulty car can be overwhelming. Thankfully, California has a specific legal protection known as the California Lemon Law designed to help consumers in situations just like this.
At Law Lemon Pros, we understand how stressful it can be when your vehicle doesn’t perform as promised. This guide will walk you through what is California Lemon Law, how it applies to you, and what steps you can take before filing a claim.
What Is California Lemon Law?
Simply put, California Lemon Law is a consumer protection law that safeguards buyers and lessees of defective vehicles. The law requires manufacturers to either replace or refund a vehicle that has substantial defects that impair its use, value, or safety—defects that remain unresolved after a reasonable number of repair attempts.
This law covers new and used vehicles (under specific conditions) and protects consumers against vehicles that repeatedly fail to meet quality and performance standards, commonly referred to as lemon vehicles.
How Does California Lemon Law Define a Lemon Vehicle?
A lemon vehicle is a car, truck, SUV, or other motor vehicle that suffers from significant defects that impair its functionality, safety, or value. These defects must have occurred within a certain timeframe or mileage limit, generally within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles of ownership, whichever comes first.
Common examples of defects covered include:
- Engine problems that cause the car to stall or lose power
- Transmission failures that affect shifting or movement
- Persistent brake malfunctions that impact safety
- Electrical system faults that cause repeated breakdowns
- Steering or suspension issues
To qualify as a lemon under California law, these problems must substantially impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety, and importantly, the manufacturer or dealer must have been unable to repair the vehicle after a reasonable number of attempts.
What Are “Reasonable Repair Attempts”?
The law doesn’t expect perfection, but it does set standards to determine when a vehicle qualifies as a lemon. In California, a reasonable number of repair attempts is generally considered:
- Two or more attempts to fix a serious safety defect, such as faulty brakes or steering, which could endanger the driver or passengers.
- Four or more attempts to repair the same defect that continues to affect the vehicle’s operation.
- If the vehicle is out of service for repair for a total of 30 or more days within the warranty period.
If these conditions are met, and the problem remains unresolved, the vehicle is likely a lemon, and the owner is entitled to a replacement or refund under California Lemon Law.
Who Is Covered by California Lemon Law?
The law protects anyone who has purchased or leased a vehicle for personal, family, or household use. This includes:
- New vehicle buyers
- Buyers of certain used vehicles that are still under the manufacturer’s warranty
- Lessees of new and some used vehicles
If you bought or leased a vehicle primarily for business use, your claim might not be covered under California Lemon Law.
What Types of Vehicles Are Covered?
California Lemon Law covers:
- New cars, trucks, SUVs, and motorcycles
- Used vehicles that are still under the manufacturer’s original warranty
- Certain types of recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles with some restrictions
However, the law does not cover:
- Vehicles purchased “as is” without a warranty
- Vehicles with defects caused by abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications
How to Start Your California Lemon Law Claim?
If you believe you have a lemon vehicle, here’s what to do:
- Keep detailed records: Document all repair visits, invoices, communications with the dealer or manufacturer, and notes on the defect or problem.
- Notify the manufacturer: Sometimes, the manufacturer may offer a goodwill repair or replacement outside of the law’s requirements.
- Seek legal advice: Lemon law cases can be complex. Consulting experienced lemon law attorneys, like the team at Law Lemon Pros, ensures your rights are protected and your claim is properly filed.
- File a claim: If the issue is unresolved after reasonable repair attempts, your attorney can help you file a claim to pursue a refund or replacement.
Why Choose Law Lemon Pros for Your Lemon Law Case?
At Law Lemon Pros, we specialize in California Lemon Law and have helped countless clients successfully navigate the process of recovering from a lemon vehicle purchase. Our team understands the frustration and financial strain a defective vehicle can cause.
We provide clear, honest guidance through every step of your claim and fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Best of all, we offer a free consultation to review your case and advise you on your options—no upfront fees unless we win your case.
What Compensation Can You Expect Under California Lemon Law?
If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, the manufacturer must either:
- Replace your vehicle with a comparable new one, or
- Refund your purchase price (minus a reasonable allowance for your use of the vehicle)
In some cases, you may also be entitled to recover legal fees and other costs.
Common Misconceptions About California Lemon Law
- It only applies to new cars: While mostly covering new vehicles, California Lemon Law can also apply to some used cars still under warranty.
- You must return the vehicle immediately: The law allows you to keep the vehicle while the claim is processed.
- Only defects you notice immediately are covered: Defects discovered within the warranty period are covered even if they show up later.
Act Now: Don’t Let a Lemon Vehicle Drain Your Wallet
If you’re stuck with a defective vehicle, waiting could cost you more time, money, and safety. The sooner you understand what is California Lemon Law and act on your rights, the better your chances are of resolving your claim successfully.
Contact Law Lemon Pros today for your free case evaluation and take the first step toward getting your lemon vehicle replaced or refunded. Don’t settle for less when the law is on your side.
Have questions about your lemon vehicle?
- Reach out to Law Lemon Pros now for a free consultation and let us help you understand your rights.
Understanding what is California Lemon Law is the first step in protecting yourself from a faulty vehicle. With the right legal team by your side, you can turn your lemon vehicle experience into a win. At Law Lemon Pros, we’re here to help you every mile of the way. Report this page