California Lemon Law News + Info

What if the manufacturer claims that the defect is not covered under warranty?

If your vehicle is experiencing a seemingly unfixable problem, you might suspect that your vehicle is a lemon. You might have checked your vehicle’s warranty and gotten multiple repairs at your local dealership. If your auto manufacturer or dealership claims that your vehicle problems are not covered under the warranty, you might have been asked to pay for specific vehicle repairs out of pocket.

What if your auto manufacturer claims that the vehicle defect is not covered by your warranty? Are you out of luck? Not quite. You might need to reach out to a qualified lemon law attorney before you write yourself off.

First, here are a few reasons an auto manufacturer might claim the vehicle problem is not covered under warranty:

  • A specific component is not listed for coverage. Get some clarity as to what components are covered under your auto manufacturer’s warranty.
  • Vehicle misuse, abuse or neglect. An auto manufacturer might claim that a vehicle problem is due to lack of maintenance or improper use of the vehicle.

Now that you understand a few reasons why an auto manufacturer might make such a claim, you should gather your repair order documents and vehicle warranty. You will want these documents on hand when you consult with a lemon law attorney about your claim, as the attorney will very likely ask for these after the initial phone call or in-person visit.

A lemon law attorney can help you get some clarity as to what vehicle problems are actually covered under the California Lemon Law. Lots of consumers in your position are initially denied a vehicle repurchase or replacement by the auto manufacturer. Without the help of an attorney, you will not know for sure if you are actually ineligible for lemon law compensation.

After your initial consultation, the lemon law attorney may request additional documents for your potential lemon law claim. If you’re hesitant to get an initial consultation, let alone retain an attorney, remember this: no part of our lemon law services will cost you anything out of pocket. If you’re ready for an initial consultation, call us today at 877-217-7676.


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: 2020–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.

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