What Qualifies as a Lemon in California?

Lemon Laws in California

In California, the lemon law protects consumers who have purchased new or used vehicles with substantial defects or a multitude of problems causing the vehicle to be in the shop an unreasonable amount of time. The California lemon law protects consumers from a potential sour deal and holds manufacturers responsible for conforming their product to the written warranty within a reasonable number of attempts.

Vehicles and consumer goods covered by California lemon laws include:

• New cars
• Used cars
• RVs and motor homes
• Boats and other watercraft
• Consumer goods and electronics under warranties

Get started with a free case evaluation by calling our firm at 949.446.1668 today.

Qualifications for Lemon Law Claims in California

Before holding a manufacturer responsible for defects or problems, several qualifications must be met in order to ensure that the vehicle is covered under California’s lemon law. If your vehicle meets these qualifications, you may have the right to seek recourse or take legal action. We encourage you to contact an experienced Orange County lemon law attorney as soon as possible.

The general qualifications are:

• The car must have a substantial impairment in use, value, or safety
• The problems with the car must have been, covered by a warranty
• The owner must have attempted to get the vehicle repaired multiple times or the car must be in the shop an unreasonable amount of days
• The defects must have appeared within the manufacturer's original warranty period or during the first 18 months or 18,000 miles of ownership, whichever occurs first.
• The defects must not have been caused by abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications by the owner.

Contact Our Orange County Lemon Lawyers

Barnes Law Firm in Orange County is well known by auto manufacturers as a firm that is well versed and knowledgeable in the lemon law of California. If we are not able to resolve your case directly with the manufacturer, we bring our extensive knowledge of the California lemon law into the courtroom. 

California Lemon law may vary on what is considered a reasonable opportunity for repair depending on the nature of the problem with the vehicle in question. Generally speaking, if these three qualifications are met, chances are likely that you have a lemon on your hands.

If it still isn't clear whether or not you have a lemon, our Orange County lemon law lawyer is ready to assist you. Barnes Law Firm has a long history of success in lemon law cases and we have helped thousands of individuals receive compensation. When you retain our firm, you can rest assured your case will be given the attention that it deserves.

• Related: Lemon Law FAQ

For more information, contact our office to schedule a free initial consultation with our experienced California Lemon Law firm.