Buying a new or used vehicle should give you peace of mind—not constant trips to the repair shop. Unfortunately, many California drivers end up stuck with defective cars that spend more time in the garage than on the road. If this sounds familiar, you may be wondering: does my car qualify as a lemon under California law?
What Is the California Lemon Law?
California’s Lemon Law (officially the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act) protects consumers who purchase or lease vehicles that have serious defects the manufacturer cannot fix within a reasonable number of attempts.
If your vehicle qualifies, the manufacturer may be required to:
- Buy back the vehicle, or
- Replace it, and
- Pay your attorney’s fees and costs
Most importantly: you pay nothing out of pocket for legal representation.
What Types of Vehicles Are Covered?
California Lemon Law protections apply to many vehicles, including:
- New cars
- Used cars (still under manufacturer warranty)
- Leased vehicles
- SUVs, trucks, and vans
- Some certified pre-owned vehicles
Even if your car was purchased from a used dealer, you may still be protected if a manufacturer’s warranty applies.
Common Lemon Law Defects
A vehicle may qualify as a lemon if it has recurring issues such as:
- Engine or transmission failure
- Electrical system problems
- Brake or steering defects
- Hybrid or battery issues
- Infotainment or software failures
- Repeated warning lights or stalling
The key factor is whether the defect substantially affects the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
How Many Repair Attempts Are “Too Many”?
There’s no exact number, but generally:
- 2 or more repair attempts for a serious safety defect, or
- 4 or more repair attempts for the same issue, or
- 30+ total days out of service
can indicate a valid Lemon Law claim.
Even if your situation doesn’t fit these numbers perfectly, you may still have a case.
What Compensation Can You Receive?
If your claim is successful, you may be entitled to:
- A vehicle buyback or replacement
- Reimbursement for payments made
- Recovery of repair costs
- Towing and rental expenses
- Civil penalties in some cases
Every case is different, which is why speaking with an experienced Lemon Law attorney matters.
Why Choose The Lemon Reps?
At The Lemon Reps, we focus exclusively on Lemon Law claims. We handle everything—from paperwork to negotiations—so you don’t have to.
✔ No upfront costs
✔ Free case evaluation
✔ You don’t pay unless we win
✔ We fight for maximum compensation
FAQ’s
California’s Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act) protects drivers who purchase or lease vehicles with serious defects that the manufacturer can’t fix after a reasonable number of repair attempts.
Your vehicle may qualify if it has a repeating defect or issue that substantially impacts the vehicle’s use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer has had a fair chance to repair it.
California Lemon Law protections can apply to many vehicles, including:
Some certified pre-owned vehicles
Even if you bought from a used dealer, you may still be covered as long as a manufacturer warranty applies.
1New vehicles
Used vehicles still under the manufacturer’s warranty
Leased vehicles
SUVs, trucks, and vans
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