Stanislaus County Lemon Law Attorneys

Experienced Stanislaus County Lemon Law Attorneys Help Vehicle Owners Protect Their Rights Under California Law

With over 500,000 residents, Stanislaus County offers both urban living and natural delights to its residents and visitors. Its proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area means that thousands of people rely on their vehicles daily to commute, go to school, run errands, and enjoy the city’s sights and the picturesque California countryside. 

If you live or work in Stanislaus County, you know a reliable vehicle is a must. When ongoing problems with your vehicle arise, they interrupt every aspect of your daily life. 

Talk to an experienced Stanislaus County lemon law attorney if you think your vehicle is a lemon. The team at Wirtz Law APC is here to help. 

Stanislaus County Vehicle Statistics

In 2023, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) registered an estimated 526,926 vehicles in Stanislaus County – nearly one for every resident. These totals included passenger cars, trucks, trailers, and motorcycles. These numbers included both new vehicle registrations and registration renewals.

How many of these registered vehicles were lemons? A study by CALPIRG and fellow researchers may provide some insights. Researchers examined the total number of new vehicle registrations in California in 2021 and the number of lemon law cases filed. They found that of 7.6 million new vehicle registrations statewide, 34,397 ended up in court – about 0.45 percent of the total.

0.45 percent seems low. Yet it likely understates the number of lemon vehicles in California. First, most lemon law cases don’t end up in court. Instead, they’re settled before trial. The study numbers also do not include cases settled through arbitration. 

Not all auto companies are equally represented in lemon law cases, either. Between 2018 and 2021, General Motors faced lemon law claims at a rate of one claim per 78 vehicles the company sold in California. By contrast, Toyota Motor Sales was named in one claim per 2,029 vehicles the company sold in California. 

A Guide to Lemon Law in Stanislaus County

Lemon Vehicles in California

Any vehicle can become the subject of a lemon lawsuit. Yet some auto companies are named in lemon law claims more frequently than others. Between 2018 and 2021, the automakers with the highest rates of lemon law claims per vehicle sold included:

• General Motors
• Jaguar Land Rover North America
• Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
• Nissan North America
• Ford Motor Company

Companies with the lowest rates of lemon law claims per vehicle sold included:

• Toyota Motor Sales
• Mazda Motor of America
• Mitsubishi Motors North America
• Subaru of America
• Volvo Cars of America

Other automakers, including Maserati, Kia, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, BMW, and Honda, also appeared in lemon law claims during this period. These names continue to arise in lemon law cases today. 

Issues That Commonly Appear in Lemon Vehicles

In 2021, 10,707 lemon law cases were filed in California courts. Yet this number may vastly understate the problem with lemon vehicles. That same year, an estimated 6.3 million vehicles in California had at least one major unrepaired defect that was listed in a vehicle recall.

Any part of a vehicle may be defective, making any vehicle part a potential subject of a lemon law claim. A few examples of vehicle issues that appeared in lemon law claims in 2021 include:

• Air conditioning and HVAC systems
• Backup camera problems
• Sensor defects, including problems with front radar collision, lane change assist tools, and various engine sensors
• Odometers
• Seat belts, airbags, and other safety systems
• Batteries
• Transmissions and clutches
• Brakes, including emergency brakes

Many other issues can appear in a vehicle as well. If the automaker fails to repair the defect after multiple attempts, the owner may have a valid lemon law claim.  

How Does a Vehicle Qualify as a “Lemon” in Central California? 

Under California lemon law, your vehicle may be a lemon if:

• The vehicle is registered in California,
• You purchased or leased the vehicle “at retail” – typically, through a dealership or directly from the manufacturer, and
• The vehicle is still under warranty when the issues start. 
• The issues substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle.

Most lemon law claims require the vehicle to be purchased or leased in California. If you are an active-duty service member stationed in California, however, you may bring a lemon law claim even if you purchased or leased your vehicle in another state. 

In addition, a California court will ask whether the automaker has had a “reasonable number of attempts” to fix the issues with the vehicle. What counts as a “reasonable” number varies but at least one court has said two repairs is enough. Also, a vehicle that has been out of service for more than 30 days will meet this requirement. 

Vehicles owned for personal, family, or household use qualify for lemon law protection if they meet the requirements above. Vehicles owned by a small business may also qualify for lemon law protection if:

• The small business owns five or fewer vehicles in total, and
• The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight (GVW or “curb weight”) of less than 10,000 pounds. 

Other businesses, as well as owners whose vehicles don’t meet the above requirements, may not be covered by lemon law – but they may have other legal options. Speak to an attorney to learn more about how the law applies to your situation. 

What To Do If You Suspect You Own a Lemon Vehicle

You bought or leased your vehicle expecting reliable, safe transport. Instead, you’re dealing with ongoing headaches and risks. If you suspect your vehicle is a lemon:

• Document everything. Write down when the issues began and what symptoms you experienced. If a problem persists, write down the date and time it happens and what you observed – every time. 
• Save your paperwork. When you take your vehicle to the dealership for repairs, save all paperwork from those visits. Keep your paperwork in a safe place. If you’re missing paperwork from previous visits, ask the dealership for copies. It’s also wise to find a copy of your vehicle warranty and keep it with this paperwork. 
• Save receipts. Towing fees, Uber charges, and bus passes can add up. Anytime you spend money you wouldn’t have spent if your vehicle ran reliably, save the receipt. 
• Check for recalls. Visit recalls.gov or use your preferred search engine to search for recall information for your vehicle. If a recall is listed, follow the instructions in the recall for vehicle care and repair. 
• Be prompt about returning to the dealership when needed. If the dealership returns your vehicle but the issue appears again, take the vehicle back promptly. Doing so builds a record of issues and counts toward the “reasonable number of attempts” the automaker receives to fix the problem before facing liability under lemon law. 
• Talk to an experienced attorney. The sooner you speak to a lemon law attorney, the sooner you receive legal advice tailored to your situation. Many attorneys provide a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation to help answer your initial questions. 

If you’re having ongoing vehicle issues, speak to a Stanislaus County lemon law attorney today. A lawyer can help you protect your legal rights. 

Fighting for Compensation in a Stanislaus County Lemon Law Claim

California lemon law provides for three categories of compensation:

• Refund or replacement. Also known as the “buyback” rule, the refund or replacement rule requires the automaker to provide a refund or a replacement vehicle, whichever you choose. 
• Incidental and consequential damages. These amounts are money you had to spend because your vehicle was a lemon. Common examples include towing fees, rental vehicle fees, and the costs of ridesharing, taxi fare, or public transportation. You can recover these amounts in a lemon law case as well.
• Attorney’s fees. California lemon law requires an automaker to pay “reasonable” attorney’s fees for a vehicle owner who has a lemon vehicle. If you win your case, you won’t pay attorney’s fees out of pocket. Instead, the automaker will pay those fees. 
• Civil Penalties.  Additionally, if an automaker willfully fails to follow the lemon law, you may also be entitled to a civil penalty, which is additional damages up to two times the amount of your actual damages.

Lemon law claims can be costly for automakers. This is why many automakers use multiple tactics to fight or avoid these claims. The automaker may deny your claim, delay or stall, or try to push you into arbitration instead of negotiating a settlement. Automakers’ attorneys specialize in using these tactics to avoid paying lemon law claims. 

You can level the playing field by seeking the help of a dedicated Stanislaus County lemon law attorney. Lemon law firms specialize in identifying the tactics automakers use and challenging them. With an experienced lawyer on your side, you can ensure your rights are safe as you fight for the compensation you deserve. 

Talk to an Experienced Stanislaus County Lemon Lawyer Today

Having a lemon vehicle is a uniquely frustrating and frightening experience. You chose to buy or lease a new car because you wanted reliability and safety. Instead, you have ongoing uncertainty and the risk that an important vehicle system will fail at a critical moment. 

If this sounds familiar, don’t fight the automakers alone. Talk to the team at Wirtz Law APC today. Call us or use our online form to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation.