California Lemon Law: Protection for Consumers

A lemon vehicle has a defect, non-conformity, or a combination of many defects substantially impairing its use, safety, and vehicle. If the manufacturer or mechanic cannot fix the issue in your car, truck, or van within a reasonable number of repair attempts or a specified time period, it is a lemon vehicle.

Have you leased or purchased a car in California and had to take it to a repair shop for defective issues? Then the California Lemon Law may help you get your money back. Here is all you need to know about the Lemon Law.

California Lemon Law: The Basics

Repetitive problems or severe safety issues with a newly bought product can be frustrating. Some of us throw away the new product causing repetitive issues and buy a new one at our expense. This is where California Lemon Law protects you from any defective products or vehicles. You may also receive monetary compensation from the manufacturer.

The California Lemon Law protects consumers' goods purchased or leased for personal or business use (unless more than five registered vehicles to business).

Suppose a manufacturer in California cannot repair a purchased or leased product/item after a certain number of attempts. In that case, it must either replace the defective product or refund your money.

California Lemon Law Regulations

In California, the Lemon Law obligates manufacturers to abide by the following rules and regulations.

· Provide adequate repair facility within California for the consumer to access the service hassle-free

· The repair time of the defective good does not take 30 days

· Must not exceed a certain number of attempts to repair in order to fix the issue

· Offer refund or replacement to the consumers

· Paying consumers a reasonable attorney’s costs and fees

California Lemon Car Law

The Californian Lemon car law exclusively applies to vehicles with a valid warranty. These include:

· Cars

· Vans

· SUVs

· Pickup trucks

· Motorcycles

The Lemon Law will cover chassis cab, chassis, and drivetrain.  The Lemon Law protects financed, leased, and certified pre-owned vehicles within warranty.

If a car manufacturer cannot repair your car within a certain number of repair attempts, it must replace or repurchase the vehicle. The manufacturer must also pay you consequential and incidental damages.  Attorney’s fees and costs, by law, must be paid by the manufacturer.  

California Lemon Car Law Regulations

For your car or other vehicles considered a lemon, you must fulfil several requirements.

· The car or vehicle must have an active or express warranty.

·  You purchased the car from a manufacturer or dealer.  The law does not protect purchases from private parties.

· You must give the manufacturer or dealer the opportunity to repair your vehicle at least once.

· The problem with your vehicle must be material. This means that the defect alters how your vehicle functions.

A Tip to Remember

It is always a good idea to bring your vehicle (with a valid warranty) to an authorized dealer's or manufacturer's repair shop. Inform the repair team about each issue you are facing and ensure that they mention the reported issues on your service order or document.

This will help you make a Lemon Law claim because the manufacturer or deal will not be able to deny the repair records or blame you for uncertified repairs by a third party.

What If You Have a Lemon Product or Vehicle?

If you have already taken your product or vehicle to the dealer or manufacturer repeatedly and they were unable to solve your issue, the chances are that you probably have a lemon. In this case, you can take a number of steps to make a Lemon Law claim in California.

You must first gather all the documents related to the manufacturer's or dealer's repair attempts. Review your documents to make sure that it mentions all the issues you reported. You can even contact an attorney specializing in Lemon Law.

Suppose it is an automobile you are filing the lemon claim for. In that case, the California Lemon Law obligates your manufacturer to pay your attorney’s fees paid for filing the Lemon Law case.

The Time Limit on Filing a Lemon Law Claim in California

You must remember that there is a time limit on filing a Lemon Law claim against a manufacturer. There are different time limits for different scenarios that may apply as per your individual circumstances.

First, the California Lemon Law has a statute of limitations on filing a claim. Under this statute of limitation, you can generally file a case against the manufacturer within 4 years of discovering the issue with your product.

Even when you have 4 years to file a Lemon Law case, you must not wait for that long. This can affect your claims, and manufacturers can say that the defect was due to a manufacturing fault. Other causes include running out of warranty and other wear and tear issues that may also contribute to the existing defect, giving the manufacturer a chance to get away without paying anything.

With a Lemon Law claim for a car or any other type of vehicle, you must file a complaint within its warranty period. Any problem that occurs or is reported after the warranty period expires does not qualify for a valid Lemon Law claim.

Hire an Experienced Lemon Law Attorney

Suppose you have leased or purchased a defective consumer product or vehicle, and the manufacturer or seller is not offering a replacement or refund. In that case, it is time to contact an attorney with expertise in California Lemon Laws. The attorney will evaluate the entire situation and help you get a comprehensive claim against the damages.

Do not feel down or discouraged if your consumer good failed to function as it should have. Instead, you can protect your rights under the Lemon Law in California and receive a proper refund or replacement.

Get in touch with a professional and experienced Lemon Law attorney in California who will not only give you a free case assessment but also determine whether you have a lemon or not. You can count on us to provide sound legal representation.