California Lemon Law · Serving the Entire State
Stuck with a lemon? California law is on your side.
If your new or leased vehicle is still under warranty and the dealer cannot fix it after repeated repairs, California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act may entitle you to a repurchase, replacement, or cash settlement. Certified pre-owned and used vehicles may also qualify, depending on the warranty.
Is My Car a Lemon?
Three signs your vehicle may qualify as a lemon
You do not need to know the legal terms. Problems that show up may qualify, so it is worth having your repair history reviewed.
1 It keeps going back to the shop
Four or more repair attempts for the same warranty defect, or two or more if the defect is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, may qualify. Our legal team can review your repair history.
2 The dealer "could not duplicate" it
A repair order marked "could not duplicate" or "no problem found" can still show that you brought the vehicle in for the defect. Keep every repair order, even when the dealer says nothing was wrong. These records are your evidence.
3 More than 30 days in the shop
Your vehicle was out of service for warranty repairs for more than 30 total calendar days, and the days do not need to be in a row.
Lemon Law by Manufacturer
Lemon law help for every major manufacturer
Jeep
Owners report recurring 4xe hybrid battery and electrical issues, transmission problems, steering "death wobble," and Uconnect system failures. Some of these issues have been the subject of manufacturer recalls. Our Jeep guide covers common problems by model.
Acura 
Audi 
BMW 
Buick 
Cadillac 
Chevrolet 
Chrysler 
Dodge 
Ford 
GMC 
Honda 
Hyundai 
Infiniti 
Jaguar 
Jeep 
Kia 
Land Rover 
Lexus 
Mazda 
Mercedes-Benz 
Nissan 
Porsche 
RAM 
Rivian 
Subaru 
Tesla 
Toyota 
Volkswagen 
VolvoLogos identify vehicle makes only. Premier Legal Center is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any vehicle manufacturer.
A Team You Can Trust
The people behind your case
Premier Legal Center levels the playing field between California consumers and vehicle manufacturers. Our practice focuses on consumer warranty law, including the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
"The manufacturer has a legal team. You should too. Under California law, if your claim succeeds, they pay for yours."
Steven L. Marchbanks
Founder and Principal Counsel
Jermina Landstrom
Of Counsel
How It Works
- 1
You provide your documents
Send what you have so far. The legal team reads it and tells you if anything else would help.
- 2
Attorney review
Steve or a member of his legal team reads your repair history and tells you where you stand. It is not an automated call center.
- 3
Demand to the manufacturer
Most warranty claims resolve without anyone seeing a courtroom. If yours does not, the fee-shifting statute means delay costs them, not you.
In our clients' words
Working with this lemon law firm on my 2020 Chevy Colorado case was a great experience from beginning to end. The entire team was professional, responsive, and extremely knowledgeable. I’d like to give special recognition to Jordan and the rest of the staff for their outstanding communication and support throughout the process. They made a stressful situation simple and smooth. I highly recommend their services.
Luis Fuentes2020 Chevrolet Colorado
Steve and his team did a great job at delivering a satisfactory offer and resolution regarding a vehicle complaint over the past year. The opposing party dragged out the process, but Steve's team was on the job. Any time I had concern or question, the team was able to respond in a timely fashion. I look forward to our second legal proceeding together and to better reliability with my next vehicle purchase.
Timothy Anas2020 Chevrolet Bolt
Statements from actual clients. A testimonial is not a promise or prediction about the outcome of your matter. Read more client testimonials →
California lemon law, in plain English
What does a lemon law attorney cost me?
Nothing upfront. The case review is free, and if your claim succeeds, California's Song-Beverly Act requires the manufacturer to pay your reasonable attorney fees and costs. If we recover nothing, you owe us nothing, fees or costs. Our legal team will explain the fee arrangement in your engagement agreement before you sign.
What counts as a lemon in California?
A vehicle with a warranty defect that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety, which the manufacturer or its dealers cannot fix after a reasonable number of attempts.
Does the lemon law cover leased or certified pre-owned vehicles?
Yes for leased vehicles. California's lemon law covers new vehicles that are bought or leased, including demonstrators and some vehicles used for business. Certified pre-owned and used vehicles are more limited. Contact our team for an individual review.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Deadlines depend on your vehicle, your warranty, and your manufacturer. For manufacturers that have opted into California's newer lemon law procedures, different deadlines apply, and you must send written notice to the manufacturer before filing a lawsuit. Contact us as soon as possible so an attorney can check the dates that apply to you.
What documents should I send for a case review?
Please send your purchase or lease agreement, all repair orders and invoices, your vehicle registration, and any letters, emails, or case numbers from the dealer or manufacturer. If you do not have everything, send what you have. Our legal team will let you know what else is needed.
Articles
From the firm's desk
"Song-Beverly" is the statute commonly called California's "lemon law," and it covers express and implied warranties on consumer goods, including new and certain used motor vehicles.
Where "Song-Beverly" gives California buyers stronger remedies, including repurchase or replacement and civil penalties, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a federal backstop that covers consumers in every state. It can also support federal jurisdiction when the amount in controversy is at least $50,000.
- Song-Beverly fee-shifting: what it means for youHow Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d) requires the manufacturer, not you, to pay your attorney fees and costs when a California lemon law claim succeeds.
- Why "could not duplicate" repair orders still countA repair order marked "could not duplicate" can still help document repeated warranty repair visits for a California lemon law claim.