Under California’s lemon law, vehicles must meet the following requirements to fit the definition of a lemon:

• The vehicle must have a defect that affects the use, safety, or value
• The vehicle must still be under an active warranty
• The vehicle must have undergone a reasonable number of repair attempts

“Lemon law” refers to the Song-Beverly Act, which is a state law that protects consumers who purchased or leased a defective vehicle. The law essentially ensures that manufacturers comply with their express/implied warranties and gives consumers a right to remedies. The lemon law applies to new and used cars, both financed and leased, as well as to other consumer products.

The remedies available under the lemon law include the following:

• A vehicle buyback (which is essentially a refund for the full purchase price of the vehicle, including taxes and all fees), or
• A replacement vehicle of equal or similar value

In addition, you will likely be reimbursed for all out-of-pocket costs incurred, including repair costs, towing costs, rental costs, etc. The auto manufacturer will also need to cover all legal fees.

So, how many repair attempts must be made on your vehicle so that it qualifies as a lemon and you can file a claim? The number of required repair attempts will vary based on the defect present in the vehicle. In general, the severity of the defect directly influences what is considered a reasonable number of repair attempts.

Consider the following:

• For defects that are not safety-related, four or more repair attempts may be required
• For serious defects affecting safety, only two or more repair attempts may be required

No matter the specific defect present in your vehicle or number of repair attempts needed, the most important thing is that you properly document every repair attempt. Keep track of all dates, reported issues, repairs made, costs, and receipts given to you. If you fail to record even one repair attempt, then your vehicle may not qualify as a lemon or the process may be delayed.

If your vehicle is defective and you are ready to explore your right to pursue a lemon law claim, it is important that you reach out to the right lawyer to handle your claim. Our lemon law attorneys are not afraid to take on any auto manufacturer to fight for the rights of our clients and protect their rights under the lemon law. To ensure that we remain accessible, our law firm offers free consultations, which include both free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with all the information that you need to begin or continue your lemon law claim. Whether you are looking to begin or continue your claim, we can help you. Contact our firm today to schedule a free case review.

Our lemon law lawyers are ready to help you every step of the way.