California Lemon Law News + Info

What happens if the manufacturer refuses to repurchase or replace my vehicle?

If your vehicle has recurring defects and cannot provide safe and reliable transportation, your auto manufacturer has an “affirmative duty” to replace your vehicle or repurchase it under the California Lemon Law. If your auto manufacturer neglects its responsibility to you, the California Lemon Law offers you legal recourse.

First, it is important to understand what constitutes a lemon. According to the California Lemon Law, a lemon is a vehicle with a defect that substantially impairs use, value or safety, and one that the auto manufacturer cannot fix within a reasonable number of repair attempts.

When the auto manufacturer does not comply with the law, it can leave you frustrated. Luckily, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of getting the restitution you deserve.

If you have not taken your vehicle in for repairs, start doing so. If you already have repairs made on your vehicle, dig up your repair orders and organize them. Find your sales or lease agreements and other receipts of expenses you incurred because of your vehicle defect.

Learn what to do if you’re not sure whether you have a case. Then, learn how many repairs you need to file a claim, and what to do regardless of whether you have repairs yet.

Once you do so, you will get a consultation with a lemon law attorney, and if the attorney thinks you may have a case, the attorney will want to follow up with you. This may ultimately lead to you hiring the lemon law attorney for your claim. Your lemon law attorney will file a lemon lawsuit and, if your vehicle is found to be a lemon, you may get a vehicle replacement or a lemon law buyback.

An essential fact is that lemon law services, from the initial consultation to the final decision, do not cost you anything out of pocket. If a lemon law attorney loses your case, you pay nothing. If a lemon law attorney wins your case, the auto manufacturer is on the hook for the attorney’s fees and costs.

If you told your auto manufacturer that you suspect your vehicle is a lemon, and the auto manufacturer refused to repurchase or replace your vehicle, you have legal options. An experienced lemon law attorney can help you get the restitution you deserve.

If you find yourself in this position, take action now. Our lemon law firm offers free consultations 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: 2019–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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