Fiat Lemon Law Lawyer

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, also called FCA, is the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy. With its corporate headquarters in Amsterdam and its financial headquarters in London, Fiat Chrysler automobiles manufacture 14 motor vehicle brands, including Dodge, Ram, Fiat, and Maserati. Most Fiat sales are in the United States, and they have relatively high safety ratings. However, not all Fiat vehicles are safe and dependable.  

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Fiat Lemon Law Attorney 

If you’ve purchased a Fiat that is under warranty and needs to be repeatedly taken into the shop for repairs, your Fiat may be considered a lemon. Under California’s lemon law, you may have a right to a replacement vehicle or require Fiat to buy back your lemon. If you’re tired of spending time at the repair shop to get your new Fiat repaired, contact the skilled lemon law attorneys at Wirtz Law to schedule your free case evaluation. 

California’s Lemon Law for Fiats

When you purchase a Fiat in California, your vehicle comes with certain promises, also called warranties, that guarantee its drivability and quality. A manufacturer breaches one of those promises by selling you a defective vehicle, also called a lemon. When a breach occurs, California’s lemon law will protect you. All vehicles can be considered a lemon under California’s lemon law. As a result, all of the following Fiat vehicles are protected under the lemon law:

• Fiat 124 Spider
• Fiat 500L
• Fiat 500X

How Much Is My Fiat Lemon Law Claim Worth?

When your Fiat is under warranty, needs multiple repairs, and the problem affects your Fiat’s use, value, or safety, you can seek compensation under California’s lemon law. When your Fiat is eligible as a lemon, you will be entitled to a buyback of your vehicle from Fiat or a new replacement vehicle that isn’t defective. You will also be entitled to compensation for the incidental and consequential cost, such as renting a vehicle or towing the vehicle you incurred while the dealership attempted to repair your vehicle.  

If there is evidence that Fiat willfully violated California’s laws, you may be entitled to an additional civil damage award up to twice the amount of your actual damages.  In all cases, Fiat would also be obligated to pay for your attorneys’ fees and costs, meaning that you pay us nothing until we successfully resolve your case. 

Common Defects in Fiat Vehicles

Even though Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is one of the older car manufacturers, they still produce some defects every year. Problems with a supplier’s product, a plant-wide problem, material or workmanship issues, or a robot that isn’t calibrated correctly can all cause a Fiat to be a defective lemon. Some of the most common defects with Fiats include the following:

• Stalling
• Sputtering
• Loud clunking noises coming from the engine
• Gasket leaks
• Insufficient power
• Air conditioning problems
• Fuel tank overflow
• Defective airbags
• Transmission problems

Recently, Fiat has had to recall some of its vehicles for incorrect programming in an automatic transmission that could cause the vehicle to slow down abruptly. They’ve also issued recalls for faulty airbag wiring, faulty powertrain steering that can cause stalling, and faulty tire pressure warning systems. Most recently, Fiat recalled the Fiat 500 vehicle when shifter shafts might have been manufactured in a way that may lead to breakage of the shifter shaft. 

Is Your Fiat Defective?

To require Fiat to buy back your vehicle or replace your vehicle, you will need to prove several elements. First, you have allowed the manufacturer the opportunity to make a reasonable number of attempts to repair your vehicle. There is no strict definition of how many attempts constitute a reasonable number of attempts. In some cases, a reasonable number of attempts could mean two different attempts at repairing your vehicle. You also need to show that you presented your Fiat for repair during the warranty period, either the original warranty or the extended Certified Pre-Owned Warranty extension. 

You can still file a claim under California’s lemon law if your warranty has expired as long as you presented your vehicle for repairs at least twice during the warranty period and the problems remain. Additionally, you will need to show that the defect or defects substantially impaired your vehicle’s use, value, or safety.

What Constitutes a Substantially Impairing Defect?

As mentioned above, California lemon law requires that you prove your Fiat has a substantially impairing defect. You will also need to show that the vehicle hasn’t been repaired after at least two attempts to get it repaired or that it’s been at the dealership for 30 or more days while being repaired. Substantially impairing defects are defects that impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety to someone in your situation. 

A substantially impairing defect can affect the vehicle’s use and prevent you from driving it as intended to be driven. Defects can also diminish a vehicle value when you are not getting the intended use out of it or if it wouldn’t sell for the price it usually would if the defect wasn’t present. Finally, a substantially impairing defect can be a safety defect that puts you, your passengers, and other drivers in danger. 

Contact a Fiat Lemon Law Attorney in California

Have you made several repair attempts with your Fiat, but you’re still experiencing problems? You don’t need to suffer from stress any longer. The documentation of the repairs and attempted repairs to your Fiat vehicle will tell the story. Contact Wirtz Law today for a free case evaluation if you suspect your vehicle may be a lemon. Our experienced lemon law attorneys will carefully review your case and advise you of all of your legal options. If your vehicle is a lemon, we will pursue a buyback from Fiat or a replacement vehicle and any additional damages, including civil penalties.

The lemon law attorneys at Wirtz Law help residents of California with the Fiat lemon law claims all throughout California including Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County.