Lemon law
If you bought or leased a vehicle that keeps going back for repairs for the same problem or has been in the shop for 30 or more days, you may have a claim under California’s lemon law. We represent consumers against vehicle manufacturers.
What the lemon law actually protects
California’s lemon law lives inside the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Civil Code sections 1790 through 1795.8). In plain terms, if a manufacturer cannot repair a substantial defect covered by warranty within a reasonable number of attempts, you may be entitled to have the manufacturer buy the vehicle back or replace it. A buyback generally means a refund of what you paid — your down payment, monthly payments, and related charges — reduced by a mileage offset for the use you got before the problem first surfaced.
These remedies apply to new vehicles still under the manufacturer’s original warranty, and in some circumstances to used vehicles sold with a manufacturer’s warranty. They cover cars, trucks, SUVs, and many other vehicles bought or leased primarily for personal, family, or household use, as well as certain vehicles used for business.
What counts as a “reasonable” number of repair attempts
There is no single magic number. The statute and the case law look at the nature of the defect and the circumstances. As a general guide, a problem that affects the use, value, or safety of the vehicle and that has been through several repair attempts — or a vehicle that has spent a substantial number of days out of service for warranty repairs — may support a claim. We evaluate each situation against the specific repair history rather than a rule of thumb.
What to bring us
The strength of a lemon law claim usually rises and falls on the paper trail. Helpful documents include your purchase or lease agreement, the manufacturer’s warranty booklet, every repair order and invoice (these show the dates, the reported problem, and the days the vehicle was in the shop), correspondence with the manufacturer or dealer, and any photos or videos of the defect. If you do not have all of it, we can often obtain repair records during the case — but the more complete your records, the faster we can assess the claim.
How we work these cases
We handle the claim from evaluation through resolution: reviewing the repair history and pursuing a buyback, replacement, or settlement — through mediation, arbitration, or litigation as the case requires. We give clients a direct assessment of the claim’s strengths and weaknesses up front rather than promising outcomes we cannot guarantee.