Getting stuck with a defective vehicle isn’t just frustrating—it can be expensive, unsafe, and disruptive to your everyday life. That’s why California has one of the strongest lemon laws in the country. This consumer protection law allows you to pursue a legal remedy if your vehicle has serious issues that can’t be fixed under the manufacturer’s warranty.
So, what is a lemon law? Simply put, it’s a law that protects you when a car, truck, or motorcycle has a major defect that remains unresolved after multiple repair attempts. These issues often involve core safety or performance systems. For example, a new car with a faulty transmission, braking issues, or defective airbags that aren’t fixed after several trips to the shop may qualify as a lemon under California law.
You may be entitled to a replacement, refund, or cash compensation if your vehicle meets the criteria. That’s where Lemon Law Help comes in. We’ve helped thousands of California drivers understand their rights and take action without the guesswork or stress of going it alone.
What Is a Lemon Law?
A lemon law is a law designed to protect consumers who purchase a defective vehicle. California’s law provides guidelines about when an owner is eligible for a refund, replacement, repair, or compensation if a vehicle has a serious warranty defect that the manufacturer is unable to fix after multiple attempts.
Lemon laws originated in the 1970s in response to widespread complaints about defective vehicles. The term “lemon” was already used to describe poorly designed or manufactured products, and it soon became associated with defective vehicles. To protect consumers, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act became federal law in 1975, and individual U.S. states began passing similar legislation in the 1980s.
What Vehicles Are Covered by California’s Lemon Law?
If you buy or lease a vehicle in California with serious issues affecting its safety, performance, or resale value, you don’t have to keep dealing with the problem. California’s lemon law, officially known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, offers strong protections to help you hold the manufacturer accountable.
This law applies to many types of vehicles, including:
- Cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs
- The chassis, chassis cab, and drive train of motor homes
- Dealer-owned vehicles and demo vehicles
- Vehicles purchased or leased for personal use
- Vehicles purchased or leased for business use, as long as there are fewer than five vehicles in the fleet and they are under 10,000 lbs
- Used vehicles sold by a dealer as “certified pre-owned”
- Eligible vehicles purchased or leased within California
Eligible vehicles purchased or leased outside of California by an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, if they meet certain criteria
How Does Lemon Law Work in California?
If your vehicle meets California’s lemon law criteria, you could be entitled to a refund, replacement, or cash compensation. To qualify, the defect must still exist after the manufacturer or dealer has had a reasonable number of chances to fix it during the warranty period.
The California lemon law presumption provides general guidelines for determining what’s reasonable and shifts the burden to the manufacturer to prove your vehicle is not a lemon.
A vehicle may be presumed a lemon if:
- The dealer or manufacturer has not fixed the same problem after four or more attempts.
- The dealer or manufacturer has made at least two unsuccessful repair attempts on a vehicle issue that could cause serious bodily injury or death if the vehicle is driven.
- The vehicle has been in the shop for more than 30 days (which don’t have to be consecutive) for the repair of any issue covered by the vehicle warranty.
- Repair attempts need to occur within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles only when attempting to apply for the lemon law presumption
Even if your case doesn’t meet the presumption criteria, you may still have a valid lemon law claim.
Why California’s Lemon Law Is the Strongest in the Nation
The lemon law in California offers consumers some of the broadest protections in the United States. The law holds manufacturers accountable for selling defective vehicles and gives consumers the right to seek a replacement, buyback, or other compensation if the manufacturer fails to comply with the regulations.
The lemon law protection provided in California goes even further than the federal protection that the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act offers. Some of the key benefits of California’s law include:
- Specific Vehicle Coverage: California’s law provides specific coverage for both new and used vehicles, as long as they are sold as certified pre-owned. California’s lemon law also extends to owners of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and some drivable RVs.
- Lemon Law Presumption: If a vehicle fits any of the three scenarios outlined by the CA lemon law presumption, the manufacturer now has the burden of proving that the vehicle is not a lemon, which can lead to faster resolutions, stronger negotiating power, and better settlement offers for consumers.
- Lease Coverage: California offers consumers the same lemon law protection for leased vehicles as it offers for purchased ones.
- Consumer Remedies: When you make a lemon law claim in California, you may be eligible for several different remedies if your claim is successful. In a buyback, the manufacturer purchases the vehicle back from you. The manufacturer might also give you a replacement vehicle or compensate you.
- Timeframe to File: While California’s lemon law has traditionally allowed up to four years from when the problem first appeared, new 2025 rules may shorten that window for some claims. Acting quickly is the best way to protect your rights as the law evolves.
If you’re dealing with repeated vehicle problems, it’s critical to take action early. Start by keeping detailed records of every repair visit, service invoice, and communication with the dealer or manufacturer. This documentation can make or break your case.
You should also speak with a lemon law attorney as soon as possible. At Lemon Law Help, our experienced team can explain your rights under California law, answer your questions, guide you through the next steps, and handle your case from start to finish, at no cost to you unless we win.
Do You Need a Lawyer for a Lemon Law Claim?
Technically, you can pursue a lemon law claim on your own, but going up against a manufacturer without legal support can be difficult. California’s lemon law cases are filed against the vehicle manufacturer, not the dealership, and manufacturers rarely admit fault without a fight.
Lemon law is also a complex and evolving area of law, shaped by court decisions and shifting interpretations. Working with a skilled California lemon law attorney gives you a clear advantage. At Lemon Law Help, we know how to hold manufacturers accountable and can guide you through your options, whether a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation.
Seek Legal Remedies for Your Lemon
At Lemon Law Help, we focus exclusively on helping California consumers who’ve been stuck with defective vehicles. We know how frustrating and costly a lemon can be and are here to make the process easier. You won’t pay any fees upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.
Our team has helped thousands of Californians get the results they deserve, and we know what it takes to hold manufacturers accountable. Call us at 833-208-8181 or contact us online today to schedule a free initial consultation.
