Cars play a vital role in a person's daily life, and automakers must provide safe and reliable vehicles.
What makes a car a lemon?
Nearly all types of passenger vehicles can be lemons if they meet certain criteria.
It has a defect or defects that substantially impair its use, value, or safety.
A car may be a lemon if:
It has been repaired two or more times during warranty.
The automaker cannot keep the vehicle free from defects.
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My car has issues that cannot be fixed. Do I qualify for damages?
California lemon law defines which vehicles are considered “lemons” covered by the law’s terms.
California lemon law applies to:
New vehicles purchased or leased with a manufacturer’s warranty
California lemon law applies to:
Certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles covered by a CPO warranty
California lemon law applies to:
Cars bought or leased for personal, family, or household use and certain small business use.
Vehicles that are not covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty or a certified pre-owned warranty.Vehicles purchased in private sales.
California lemon law does not apply to:
Vehicles with issues resulting from non-ordinary use or abuse of the vehicle.Vehicles whose issues are in add-on or aftermarket components.
California lemon law does not apply to:
The Most Common Lemon Vehicles in Orange County
The highest rates of lemon vehicles from 2018-2021 came from five automakers:• General Motors• Jaguar Land Rover North America• Fiat Chrysler Automobiles• Nissan North America• Ford Motor Company
General Motors saw one lemon law case for every 78 vehicles it sold in California between 2018 and 2021.
The Most Common Lemon Vehicles in Orange County
The Least Common Lemon Vehicles in Orange County
Other automakers see fewer lemon law claims. Toyota Motor Sales received only one lemon law claim per 2,209 vehicles sold in California between 2018 and 2021.
You are not limited to a replacement vehicle. Lemon owners can choose between a refund or replacement. The refund, or “buyback” amount, is calculated using a formula in California’s lemon law.
Lemon Law Claim Considerations
You may recover other damages. You may also recover attorney’s fees and “incidental and consequential damages,” or losses you wouldn’t have had if your car had worked as intended.
Lemon Law Claim Considerations
You may be entitled to civil penalties if you can prove the automaker willfully failed to comply with California’s lemon law.
Lemon Law Claim Considerations
If you think you have a lemon talk to an experienced Orange County lemon lawyer who can help you understand how the law applies to your situation.
We help Southern California consumers get the compensation they deserve after purchasing a lemon.Talk to an attorney: