If you’re having trouble with your vehicle often, it’s often in the shop, and it seems like it can’t get fixed, you might wonder if your vehicle is a lemon. There are quite a few criteria that the California lemon law sets for “lemon” vehicles to qualify. To put it simply, a lemon vehicle is a car, truck, motorcycle or other motor vehicle with a major defect that can’t be fixed even after numerous repair attempts.
With this definition in mind, how do you know if your vehicle is a lemon?
The first step is to determine if the problem with your vehicle is covered under the auto manufacturer’s warranty. Different vehicle components may have different warranty periods. That being said, if your problem first occurred during the warranty period, or if your warranty is still current (and you’re currently experiencing the vehicle problem), that may be a sign that your vehicle is a lemon.
If your vehicle problem is covered by the warranty, you should take your vehicle to an authorized dealership or repair shop for a repair visit. If your vehicle is currently under warranty for that specific problem, you should not have to pay for anything out of pocket. Make sure you receive your repair documents at the end of the repair visit. These documents should include dates, times, descriptions of the problem and the repairs performed in attempt to fix it. Not only that, these documents will be evidence of each repair attempt.
If your problem is not fixed after several repair attempts, your vehicle may be a lemon. Under the California Lemon Law, lemon owners may be entitled to a vehicle replacement or a refund of its purchase price. You should contact a lemon law attorney for a free initial consultation.
Should you decide to hire an attorney and pursue a claim, you should know that lemon law attorneys are paid on a contingency fee basis. This means the auto manufacturer pays your attorney’s fees and costs – and if you lose, you pay nothing.
To determine if your vehicle is a lemon, an attorney will typically review your repair records and evaluate the severity of the problem. If the defect substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle, you may be eligible for a lemon law claim.
Overall, if you’re having ongoing issues with your vehicle, it’s important to take action sooner rather than later. Contacting a lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and options, and potentially get the compensation you deserve.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2017–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
