Santa Rosa Lemon Lawyers

Buying a car should be an exciting and rewarding experience. You work hard for your money, and you expect any vehicle you buy to do the same for you. However, the unfortunate reality is that mass-produced vehicles often vary significantly in quality. So, while the majority of a certain make and model of vehicle may perform as expected, there are a few bad apples in every bunch—or in this case, lemons. 

The dedicated Santa Rosa Lemon Law lawyers at Wirtz Law, APC, have a long history of successfully handling lemon law claims on behalf of California vehicle owners. Car dealerships and vehicle manufacturing companies typically have teams of lawyers ready to jump to their defense, and we believe that you deserve the same treatment. The lawyers on our team have decades of hands-on experience obtaining favorable outcomes for our clients. If your vehicle has recurring problems or multiple continuous, contact Wirtz Law, APC, at 858-259-5009 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your options and how we can help you pursue them.  

What Is a Lemon Car Under California Law?

“Lemon” is the term used to describe vehicles that have significant defects that make them unsafe to drive. However, not all defects are related to vehicle safety, but can be related to impairment of your use and value of the vehicle.  The Lemon Law covers these problems as well. Essentially, if you have a vehicle that’s been in and out of the repair shop for similar problems, you may have a lemon. 

California Lemon Law Explained

The California Lemon Law actually consists of several different laws. The Tanner Consumer Protection Act and the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act are the primary statutes that make up California’s lemon laws. These laws provide that if a car has a serious warranty defect that the dealer cannot fix after several attempts, the vehicle’s owner is entitled to a legal remedy. In most cases, the remedy in a lemon law claim is that the manufacturer must either buy the vehicle back from the owner, provide them with another similar vehicle, or otherwise compensate them for the defective vehicle they purchased. When determining the appropriate amount of compensation a vehicle owner is due, manufacturers must take the following into account:

• The amount of the down payment,
• The amount of the monthly loan payments, if any, 
• The interest on any vehicle loan that accrued during the period the owner possessed the vehicle,  
• The remaining balance on the vehicle loan, and
• THe incidental and consequential damages related to the ownership. 

Additionally, a vehicle owner may have their total compensation amount offset for the period of time that the vehicle’s safety, use, and value was unaffected by the defect. 

In the event that a vehicle manufacturer willfully violated the state’s lemon law, owners may be eligible for civil damages. In most cases, Lemon Law civil penalties consist of two times the owner’s actual damages. However, these cases tend to be exceptionally complex and highly contested, meaning it’s best to have an experienced Santa Rosa lemon law lawyer involved in your case to maximize your chances of success. 

What Vehicles Does the California Lemon Law Cover?

The California Lemon Law applies to all new cars, trucks, and motorcycles that are purchased, leased or registered in California. The Lemon Law also applies to used vehicles that are still covered under the manufacturer’s new car warranty or a certified pre owned manufacturer’s warranty. 

Among the warranties provided, are two types of new car warranties: bumper-to-bumper warranties and power-train warranties. Bumper-to-bumper warranties cover most parts between your vehicle’s front and rear bumper, including the engine, transmission, drive axle, brake system, steering system, suspension system, and navigation system. A power-train warranty typically covers a vehicle’s engine, transmission, and drivetrain. Because power-train warranties cover the most important parts of a vehicle, these warranties usually last longer than bumper-to-bumper warranties. 

New car warranties vary by manufacturer, so you should check with the dealer to determine whether your car is still under warranty. However, currently, the major vehicle manufacturers are providing the following warranties:

Hyundai

• 5 years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 10 years/100,000 miles power-train warranty (original owner only)

Kia

• 5 years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 10 years/100,000 miles power-train warranty (original owner only)

Genesis

• 5 years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 10 years/100,000 miles power-train warranty (original owner only)

Mitsubishi

• 5 years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 10 years/100,000 miles power-train warranty (original owner only)

Jaguar

• 5 years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 5 years/60,000 miles power-train warranty

Infiniti

• 4 years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 6 years/70,000 miles power-train warranty

Lincoln

• 4 years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 6 years/70,000 miles power-train warranty

Lexus

• 4 years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 6 years/70,000 miles power-train warranty

Cadillac

• 4 years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 6 years/70,000 miles power-train warranty

Acura

• 4 years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 6 years/70,000 miles power-train warranty

Toyota

• 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 5 years/60,000 miles power-train warranty

Honda

• 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 5 years/60,000 miles power-train warranty

Nissan

• 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 5 years/60,000 miles power-train warranty

Ford

• 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 5 years/60,000 miles power-train warranty

If you have questions about whether your vehicle is covered under the California Lemon Law, the attorneys at Wirtz Law, APC can help. Our clients routinely call on us to help them determine if their vehicle is still under the manufacturer’s warranty and how we can help them file a Lemon Law claim. 

When Does the Lemon Law Apply?

Under California’s Lemon Law, a vehicle that has a defect is a lemon if, after a reasonable number of attempts, the dealer or manufacturer cannot fix a defect. Of course, the term “a reasonable number of attempts” is hardly self-defining, which can lead to some understandable confusion. The bottom line is that you must allow at least two repair attempts. 

If you have questions about whether your car is a lemon, reach out to Wirtz Law, APC to schedule a free consultation, and we can help you determine your best course of action. 

Which Car Manufacturers Recalled the Most Vehicles?

Every single vehicle manufacturer sells the occasional lemon; however, some manufacturers sell more lemons than others. For example, according to a recent Forbes report, the following brands of cars, trucks, and SUVs experienced the most recalls in 2021. Notably, a recall isn’t necessarily the same thing as a lemon, as the manufacturer may be able to fix the reason for the recall. However, it’s a reasonable assumption that those companies who issue the most recalls also have the most lemons on the road. 

• Ford issued 67 recalls affecting 8,636,265 vehicles
• Volkswagen Group issued 45 recalls affecting 1,040,885 vehicles
• Fiat–Chrysler/Stellantis issued 38 recalls affecting 3,041,431 vehicles
• Mercedes-Benz issued 33 recalls affecting 969,993 vehicles
• General Motors issued 32 recalls affecting 3,371,302 vehicles
• Kia issued 24 recalls affecting 1,458,962 vehicles
• Hyundai issued 22 recalls affecting 1,452,101 vehicles
• Tesla issued 20 recalls affecting 3,769,581 vehicles
• BMW issued 19 recalls affecting 1,000,455 vehicles
• Nissan issued 15 recalls affecting 1,568,385 vehicles

The other thing to consider when reviewing this list is that those manufacturers who sell more cars will likely have more lemons. However, the list above gives you an idea of those major vehicle manufacturers who have the most lemons on the road. 

Did Your Recent Vehicle Purchase Leave a Sour Taste in Your Mouth?

If you recently purchased a new vehicle or a used vehicle that is still under the original manufacturer’s new car warranty, and your vehicle has continually given you problems, reach out to Wirtz Law, APC to schedule a free consultation. At Wirtz Law, APC, we have extensive experience helping vehicle owners pursue Santa Rosa lemon law claims, connecting them with money damages to ensure they receive nothing less than they deserve. Over the decades we’ve been handling lemon law claims, we have obtained compensation for our clients in more than 97 percent of the cases we’ve handled, recovering over $50 million from auto manufacturers and dealers on behalf of our clients. Your best decision is to learn more and to schedule a free consultation with a Santa Rosa Lemon Law attorney at Wirtz Law, APC. Call 858-259-5009 today. You can also reach us through our secure online contact form, and one of our attorneys will be in touch with you shortly.