Reviewed by: Attorney Charles Panzarella
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Stuck for a Month? That’s Not Okay: If your car is at the dealership for repairs for more than 30 days total (even spread out across different visits), that’s a red flag.
- Parts Delays Happen, But There’s a Limit: Sure, parts shortages can slow things down, but the dealership can’t keep your car forever.
- Your State Has Rules to Protect You: “Lemon laws” are designed to help when a car has way too many problems. Different states have slightly different rules.
- Save Those Papers! Every time your car goes in, keep the paperwork. Dates, what problem they were fixing, and any excuses they gave you – write it all down.
- Get Help, Don’t Stress: Figuring out if your car is a “lemon” and what to do about it can be confusing. Lawyers who specialize in this can help you for free to see if you have a case.
Having your vehicle stuck at the dealership for repairs can be incredibly frustrating for car owners. But at what point is your car being held too long? And when might it qualify as a “lemon” under state laws? How long can a car dealership hold your vehicle for repairs?
We’ll break down the specifics of reasonable repair timelines, your rights regarding dealership-held repairs, and options if your vehicle has spent far too long in the shop:
How Long Can a Dealership Hold Your Car for Repair in California?
While specific repair mandates can vary by location, a dealership can hold your car for 30 days for repairs in California. If it takes over 30 days to repair a defect, the car is likely considered a lemon. At this point, the manufacturer must provide either a replacement vehicle or refund the purchase price (whichever you prefer).
The 30-day requirement does not have to be consecutive. If several trips to the repair shop for a defect covered by the warranty totaled over 30 days, this would satisfy the Lemon Law Presumption.
Why Your Car May Be Held Longer
While no owner likes waiting and worrying while their car sits at the dealership, there are valid reasons an extensive repair can take longer:
- Certain complex mechanical like transmission issues or electrical gremlins can stump technicians
- Nationwide parts warehouse backlogs can delay the arrival of even simple components
- Attempting to fix multiple issues simultaneously complicates parts procurement
- Vague, intermittent problems require extensive diagnostic road testing
- Staffing shortages at dealership service centers slow workload bandwidth
However, while these factors can reasonably delay some repairs, they do not negate consumer protections against excessively lengthy visits. Let’s explore those rights more below:
Your Rights Around Car Repair Timelines
Few protections exist at the federal level regarding car repair timeframes in and of themselves. But the overarching umbrella known as “lemon laws” does establish consumer rights based on days in the shop for state residents.
For example, Mark in California struggled with transmission problems in his recently purchased truck for over 40 days at the dealership before contacting an attorney on lemon law recourse:
“The dealer kept stringing me along every week that parts were still on backorder. It was incredibly frustrating to hear since I had a loan and insurance sitting on what felt like a worthless non-working truck in their lot. Documenting the excessive cumulative days was key.”
Lemon laws can provide recourse once a vehicle meets certain repair attempt and timeframe thresholds:
- Most state lemon laws designate 30 days in the shop as reasonable grounds for a successful claim that unfixing defects substantially harm the car’s use/value/safety.
- Additionally, having the same problem unsuccessfully repaired after 4 attempts can classify your vehicle as a lemon in most states, even if 30 days haven’t yet passed.
- Finally, states often also provide protections against life-threatening safety defects reasonably needing more than 2 repair attempts—for example, faulty brake lines.
Remedies can include full vehicle refund or replacement, potential reimbursement for rental cars, and repair costs accrued trying to fix the lemon.
When to Contact a Professional
Determining if your vehicle conclusively meets lemon qualifications can be complex. The law office of Consumer Action Law Group specializes in consumer automotive legal disputes.
Suppose your vehicle has been in the shop for 30+ days cumulatively or met other repair attempt limits. In that case, they can examine your situation at no initial cost and determine valid next steps in recouping losses.
To make a lemon law case, experts recommend compiling records of all documented repair attempts and days in service, including:
- Dated repair orders from the dealership
- Any denial letters regarding warranty coverage
- Loan/lease documentation showing continued payment obligations
- A chronological timeline of cumulative days in for service
Reach out today to have them review your dealer repair records – the sooner you explore options, the better.
Call Consumer Action Law Group today for your FREE consultation and case evaluation