Lemon Law – law

LEMON LAWYER IN CALIFORNIA

If you have purchased or leased a car in California and end up in the repair shop for repeated problems, the California lemon laws may help you get your money back. Many of us seek the best bargains when it comes to purchasing consumer goods to meet our everyday needs.

Unfortunately, some of these products are defective and fail in a very short period of time. Over 150,000 vehicles sold every year in California are lemons. If you feel that your vehicle is a lemon, do not give up! You have rights!

In California and in most other U.S. states, consumer protection laws provide remedies for those of us who have purchased or leased consumer products that fail to perform. In California, these are the California Lemon Laws.

The California Lemon Law protects consumers who purchase or lease a new or used vehicle with a warranty that must go in for repairs more than once at an authorized dealership or service shop. The manufacturer or dealer must refund the purchaser or offer a replacement in such cases. An attorney can help you determine whether your vehicle meets the criteria under the Lemon Law and offer guidance on pursuing a just outcome.

WHAT DETERMINES A LEMON?

If you have purchased a new or used car with a warranty and it has a defect that substantially impairs its use, safety, or value, you may have a lemon under the California Lemon Law.

Examples include major components such as engine, transmission systems, suspension, steering, electronics, HVAC, airbags, seatbelts, fuel system, infotainment, safety sensors, hands-free, brakes, cooling, emissions, and other vehicle concerns.

To qualify as a lemon under the Lemon Law, the vehicle must have been purchased or leased in California usually within three years. You also must have taken the vehicle to an authorized dealership for repairs more than one time.

In California, specific legal presumptions exist defining what constitutes a reasonable number of repair attempts:

The manufacturer made two or more repair attempts on a serious safety issue.
You went to the dealer for repairs more than once for a major component problem.
The car has been in the shop for repairs for 30 days (it does not have to be consecutive).

WHAT IS THE STATUE OF LIMITATION FOR LEMON LAW

The statute of limitations to file a Lemon Law claim in California is four years. The California Lemon Law time limit starts when the consumer first experiences warrantable problems with their vehicle. If four years go by, and the Lemon Law claim has not been made, you will be barred from pursuing a claim.