• California "lemon laws" protect you if your vehicle has repeated problems relating to safety, value, or use. But, minor defects are likely not sufficient.
   
• The California "lemon laws" apply to all new, and some used, vehicles. They include automobiles, trucks, RV's, motor homes, motorcycles, and boats.
   
• A demonstrator is considered a "new" vehicle.
   
• A used vehicle must be purchased or leased while it still has some remaining portion of its new car warranty in order to qualify under the California lemon laws.
   
• If you have had repeated problems with a new or used vehicle as described above, starting when the vehicle was still under the new car warranty, and if your vehicle has not been fully repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, then the vehicle likely qualifies as a "lemon" and you should call for a free consultation.
   
• There is also a legal presumption, which only is meaningful if you go to trial, which establishes the vehicle as a "lemon" if:
   
• after four (4) or more attempts to repair the vehicle for the same or similar defect during the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, whichever is first, the vehicle cannot be repaired; or
   
• after two (2) or more attempts to repair the vehicle for the same or similar defect during the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, whichever is first, the vehicle cannot be repaired and the vehicle has a manufacturing defect which results in a condition likely to cause death or serious bodily injury; or
   
• the vehicle has been out of service for more than 30 days during the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
   
• A note about arbitration.  You do not first need to go through arbitration before we can submit your lemon law claim.  In fact, you need to be aware of the "arbitration trap;" namely, if you lose an arbitration decision it may later be used in any subsequent legal action as evidence against you.
   

What If My Situation is a Little Different?

• The above paragraphs are only guidelines.  Each case is different and must be carefully analyzed from a legal standpoint. Even if you meet one of the legal presumptions above, it does not necessarily mean that the manufacturer will simply agree to repurchase your vehicle.
   
• If the defect affects safety, for example, even one or two repair attempts may be sufficient to qualify.
   
• So long as the repair attempts initially occur within the warranty period (typically 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first) and the vehicle cannot be repaired, your vehicle may qualify.

Call us TOLL FREE at 888 EX LEMON (888-395-3666) for a FREE consultation with an attorney to learn whether your situation qualifies.