Vehicles Covered (new; used, under warranty; or leased)

• Cars
• Trucks
• Motorcycles
• RVs
• Watercraft

What Qualifies a Vehicle as a Lemon in California?

• Repeated repair attempts for the same issue.
• The car has been out of service for a significant amount of time.
• The defect affects the vehicle’s safety, use, or value.

How Many Repair Attempts?

• For general defects, four unsuccessful attempts to repair the same issue will qualify a vehicle as a “lemon.”
• For defects that pose a safety risk (faulty brakes, defective tires, etc.) only two unsuccessful repair attempts will qualify a vehicle as a “lemon.”
• If a vehicle has been out of service for a total of 30 days (and the days do not need to be consecutive), it can qualify as a “lemon.”

Compensation for “Lemon” Owners

• The cost of the repairs.
• Replacement of the defective vehicle with a comparable, well-functioning model.
• Buying back the defective vehicle from the owner at a reasonable price.
• Collateral costs (e.g., towing, rental car fees, etc.) can also be pursued from the manufacturer.

Keep in mind that vehicle manufacturers have deep pockets and armies of lawyers who will fight against you getting the compensation you deserve. For this reason, it is vital that you have a knowledgeable, experienced, and tenacious legal team handling your lemon claim.