Pasadena Lemon Law Attorney
When a new car turns out to be defective, it can disrupt your daily life, drain your finances, and create serious safety concerns. California’s lemon law protects consumers in these situations, giving you the right to seek relief if your vehicle has ongoing warranty-backed issues that the manufacturer cannot repair. Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement.
Automakers have large legal teams working to minimize claims, but you don’t have to face them alone. Our Pasadena lemon law attorneys have a 99 percent success rate and decades of experience standing up to the nation’s largest auto manufacturers. We’re here to guide you through each step of the process and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Why Pasadena Drivers Choose Lemon Law Help
Other firms may promise a fast resolution, but quick doesn’t always mean fair. Our lemon law team takes the time to pursue every available remedy, even when that means pushing back against automakers who refuse to cooperate. We go beyond the standard refund to pursue additional damages that can increase your compensation two to three times higher than what you’d otherwise recover.
Since 2006, we’ve represented more than 10,000 California drivers in claims against powerful auto manufacturers, including Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, and Nissan. With a 99 percent success rate and a reputation for taking cases to trial when negotiations fall short, we don’t back down until we get the best possible outcome. Pasadena drivers choose us because we don’t just settle for the minimum—we fight for the maximum relief the law allows.
Over the years, our firm has secured some of the highest lemon law case results in California. We operate multiple offices across the state while providing dedicated service to Pasadena drivers who need dependable representation close to home. All of this comes at no out-of-pocket cost, so you can get trusted legal guidance no matter your financial situation.
What To Expect When You Work With Us
Working with our firm is a stress-free, client-first experience with no risk to you. Our process is efficient and transparent, and we fight tirelessly for a fair result.
Our lemon law attorneys in Pasadena provide a free consultation to understand your rights and options. Here’s what usually happens afterward:
- Step 1: Gather your documents. We’ll collect inspection reports, repair records, warranty information, purchase or lease paperwork, and any correspondence with the manufacturer. This helps us build a clear record of defects and repair attempts.
- Step 2: Negotiate with the manufacturer. Our attorneys will file your claim, communicate directly with the automaker on your behalf, and present evidence supporting your claim.
- Step 3: Seek a fair outcome. We’ll pursue the remedy that serves your best interests, whether that means a buyback, a replacement vehicle, or a cash settlement. And if the manufacturer won’t agree to a fair resolution outside of court, we’ll be ready to take the case to trial.
You pay zero out-of-pocket costs for our representation—if your claim succeeds, California law requires the manufacturer to cover your attorney’s fees in full. That means every dollar of your recovery stays with you.
What Compensation Can I Receive Through a Lemon Law Claim in Pasadena?
If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, California law gives you the right to meaningful relief. You may be entitled to one of the following remedies:
- Buyback or refund: The manufacturer may repurchase the vehicle and refund what you paid for it, minus a small mileage offset.
- Replacement vehicle: The manufacturer may take back the defective vehicle in exchange for a comparable new car at no additional cost.
- Cash settlement: The manufacturer may offer a negotiated payment that compensates you for the defect while you keep the vehicle.
In addition to these remedies, you could also be eligible for civil penalties and compensation for any expenses you incurred due to the defect, such as towing fees or rental car costs. California’s lemon law requires the automaker to pay your attorney’s fees, so you’ll keep 100 percent of what we recover for you.
Understanding California Lemon Law
A “lemon” is a vehicle with persistent warranty-backed defects that the manufacturer cannot fix after a reasonable number of repair attempts. Your vehicle does not need to meet strict criteria to qualify as a lemon, but the lemon law in California provides guidelines that make it easier to prove your case.
These guidelines are known as the Lemon Law Presumption. Under the presumption, a vehicle may qualify as a lemon if problems arise within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles and meet one of the following thresholds:
- Two failed repair attempts for a warranty-covered defect that creates serious safety issues, such as brake failure, steering problems, or malfunctioning airbags
- Four failed repair attempts for another defect covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty, such as electrical malfunctions, engine stalls, or transmission problems
- More than 30 days in the shop for warranty-covered repairs, even if the days are non-consecutive
Meeting these criteria shifts the burden of proof by requiring the manufacturer to show that the vehicle is not defective. Even if your vehicle does not meet these benchmarks, you may still have a valid claim based on ongoing issues that affect the vehicle’s safety, value, or reliability.
How California Lemon Law Helps Pasadena Drivers
California’s lemon law is one of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country. It requires auto manufacturers to take responsibility when a vehicle has warranty-backed defects that cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. If your car qualifies as a lemon, the manufacturer must either repurchase it, replace it with a comparable new vehicle, or provide fair compensation.
The law helps Pasadena drivers reach faster resolutions by shifting the burden to the manufacturer once certain conditions are met. This means automakers must act instead of delaying repairs. It also requires manufacturers to make things right by putting consumers back in the position they would have been in if the defect had never occurred.
What Vehicles Are Covered by California Lemon Law ?
The lemon law applies to most vehicles sold or leased in California under a manufacturer’s original warranty. Covered vehicles include:
- Cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs
- A motor home’s chassis, chassis cab, and drive train
- Dealer-owned vehicles and demonstrators
- Vehicles under 10,000 pounds purchased or leased primarily for business use
- Vehicles purchased or leased for personal, family, or household purposes
- Certified pre-owned used vehicles
Some vehicles are not covered, such as off-road vehicles, vehicles bought in private sales, or vehicles that have been abused. A vehicle that has undergone a modification after purchase may still qualify, but those changes can make the claim more complicated.
Common Questions Pasadena Motorists Ask
Below are our answers to some of the most common concerns we hear from Pasadena drivers who suspect their vehicle might be a lemon.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lemon Law Claim in California?
In California, you generally have one year from the expiration of your vehicle’s warranty to file a lemon law claim. If you miss this time limit, you may lose your right to seek financial relief.
Can I File a Lemon Law Claim on a Leased Vehicle in Pasadena?
Yes. California’s lemon law applies to both purchased and leased vehicles that were still under the manufacturer’s warranty when the defect appeared.
What Documentation Do I Need to Prove My Car Is a Lemon?
The most important records include your purchase or lease agreement, warranty paperwork, inspection reports, and repair records. These documents show how often the vehicle was in the shop and what issues persisted.
Will Filing a Lemon Law Claim Affect My Credit or Insurance Rates?
No. Filing a lemon law claim is a consumer protection right and does not harm your credit score or increase your insurance premiums.
Can I Still Use My Car While Pursuing a Lemon Law Claim?
Yes. As long as the vehicle remains safe to drive, you may continue using it during the claims process. If it becomes unsafe, stop driving it and speak with our Pasadena lemon law lawyers about how to proceed.
Does Lemon Law Apply to Used Cars in California?
Sometimes. California’s lemon law covers used cars if they’re Certified Pre-Owned and were sold by an authorized dealer with the manufacturer’s original warranty still in effect.
Start Moving Forward With Lemon Law Help
Dealing with repeated car problems is stressful enough without having to navigate a legal claim on your own. That’s where our Pasadena lemon law attorneys come in. We’re here to manage every step of the process and fight tirelessly for fair compensation on your behalf.
Let us start putting the law to work for you. Contact us online or call 833-208-8181 today for a free case review.
