So, how does the lemon law work for those who purchased a lemon car? Well, when looking at how the lemon law works, we have to look at the California Lemon Law specifically, as each state has different laws for its consumers with vehicle issues. The lemon law works to provide a remedy for consumers who purchased a vehicle that repeatedly fails and does not meet the performance standards as expected from the car manufacturer. If you think about buying a product from the store and getting a warranty, the lemon law works the same with vehicles purchased from the dealer.
The lemon law does not apply only to cars, but to other motor vehicles such as trucks, vans, motorcycles, and boats as well. The lemon law applies to used cars and new cars sold that still have a written manufacturer warranty for protection over the car.
What is the Lemon Law and How Does the Lemon Law Work in California?
The lemon law in California refers to the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, which states that a manufacturer that sold you a defective vehicle has to be able to repair the vehicle, and if unable to, has to either refund the purchase price of the vehicle or replace the vehicle with an equal vehicle value. If the problem is not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts, you can hire a lemon law attorney to file a lemon law claim against the manufacturer and demand action.
To qualify for a lemon law buyback, you have to go through a couple of steps to ensure you have a successful case. If the dealer/manufacturer refuses to comply with the lemon law, there are serious consequences, such as a court-ordered penalty, to double the buyer’s purchase price for recovery. The California lemon law is designed to defend and protect consumers against big manufacturers if you purchased a lemon car from them.
How to Qualify Under California Lemon Law?
There are two important factors to satisfy your lemon law claim for a vehicle to qualify for a lemon. You have to have a reasonable number of repair attempts for the vehicle, and the vehicle has to be under the manufacturer’s warranty. The defect of the vehicle has to affect the safety, performance, and value of the vehicle overall. Some common problems with lemon vehicles include inside the transmission, electrical, engine, and brakes.
Vehicle Under Warranty
For any vehicle to be considered a lemon, the vehicle must be under a manufacturer’s warranty. This is for all new or used cars. Vehicles break down usually in their lifetime and after constant use, the manufacturer is not responsible for vehicle breakdowns after a reasonable length of time or warranty miles.
Number of Attempts for Repair
In California, the law states that if the dealer is unable to fix the vehicle after a “reasonable number of repairs” it is considered a lemon vehicle. It is the consumer’s responsibility to keep all repair receipts in case the dealer refuses to issue the vehicle as a lemon, and you have to go to court against the dealer.
Lemon Law Attorneys in California
To have a successful case, the lemon law attorneys at Consumer Action Law Group recommend having a California lemon law lawyer by your side to fight dealer fraud. If you are having issues with your car and the dealer has not fixed the problem, you should talk to our California Lemon Law attorneys to see if you have a valid case. We are dedicated to lemon law cases and have handled thousands of claims dealing with vehicle issues.
Call our experienced attorneys today for free legal advice. We will take the stress and worry out of dealing with your lemon vehicle and your lemon claim against the manufacturer. We will work hard to make sure that you get the best result from your lemon case.
You can reach out to us for your free consultation by calling (818) 254-8413.