California Lemon Law News + Info

Can I file a Lemon Law claim if I’ve already settled with the manufacturer out of court?

If you have settled with the auto manufacturer out of court, and later discerned that you are not satisfied with the settlement result, you might have asked “Can I reopen my lemon law claim against the manufacturer?”

The answer is: it’s very unlikely. Many settlement agreements will have clauses that waive your right to sue the other party for this same case. In the case of lemon law, a settlement agreement can include a release of claims related to the specific vehicle in question. If the agreement you signed has this type of release, you may not be able to file another lemon law claim for that vehicle.

Keep in mind that the release would not apply to any future vehicles you purchase or lease. If you purchase another vehicle that turns out to be a lemon (even from the same manufacturer), you are still allowed to file a lemon law claim for that other vehicle.

You should not sign any agreement that waives your lemon law rights all together.

If you have further questions about the lemon law, get a free consultation with a lemon law attorney.

In the meantime, check out our lemon law posts:

Consult a Lemon Law Attorney

If you are not sure whether you can file a lemon law claim, get a free consultation with an experienced lemon law attorney to discuss your situation.

Initial consultations are free. If you have any questions about your lemon law rights, call us at (877) 222-2222. We answer 24/7.


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 guides on the California Lemon Law and Used Car Lemon Law for more information.

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