California Lemon Law

The Lemon Law in California protects consumers that buy or lease a brand new car, truck, motorcycles or self-propelled recreational vehicle which exhibits manufacturing defects. Specifically, the California Lemon Law applies to any new motor vehicle (as described above) that has experienced at least one defect that substantially impaired the vehicle’s use, value or safety.

Manufacturers of motor vehicles are required to repair the defects in a consumer’s motor vehicle within a reasonable number of attempts. Under California’s Lemon Law, a “reasonable number of attempts” means any of the following:

• The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership at least four times for the same defect in the first eighteen months after the vehicle was delivered, or before the vehicle was driven more than 18,000 miles, whichever comes first; OR
• The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership at least two times for the same defect that is likely to cause death or serious injury in the first eighteen months after the vehicle was delivered, or before the vehicle was driven more than 18,000 miles, whichever comes first, OR
• The vehicle was out of service as a result of its repairs for at least thirty days in the first eighteen months after the vehicle was delivered, or before the vehicle was driven more than 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Our Lemon Law attorneys have been representing California consumers for many years. If you are not sure whether your vehicle is a lemon, our California Lemon Law attorneys can assist you and answer any questions that you might have.

If your vehicle is a Lemon in the state of California, you are entitled to have the manufacturer repurchase it from you or replace it with a brand new comparable vehicle. Alternatively, you might be able to receive a “cash-and-keep” settlement, wherein the manufacturer will pay you money based on the diminished value of your vehicle due to its defects and repair history.

Ibeth is a California consumer that sought our firm’s assistance because she was experiencing transmission defects with her 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ibeth brought her Jeep to an authorized Chrysler dealership on multiple occasions for repairs, and even had the entire transmission replaced, plus it was out of service for more than 60 days as a result of those repairs. Ibeth needed a California attorney that handled Lemon Law cases, and agreed to retain our law firm to represent her in regard to her vehicle. In just a few months, we were able to procure a very favorable cash settlement, and Chrysler also paid our attorneys’ fees that we had accrued in her case. We were able to successfully settle her case without even having to file a lawsuit against Chrysler.

Even if your vehicle does not fall under the specific guidelines of the Lemon Law, you may still be entitled to receive cash compensation under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the federal lemon law that applies to any defective product that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. That law also requires the manufacturer to pay the consumer’s attorneys’ fees, so we don’t have to charge our clients for our services.

Ibeth is just one of the thousands of car buyers that our attorneys have represented all over the country. Our experienced California Lemon Law attorneys will guide you every step of the way, and work diligently to get the best possible outcome and resolution to your case. Connect here for a free, no-obligation California Lemon Law case review.