California lemon law in 2026: what changed and what didn’t

California’s lemon law, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, keeps its core protections. What changed are the procedures: AB 1755 added new steps for vehicle cases, and SB 26 made them apply to manufacturers that choose to be governed by them. Whether the new rules apply to you depends on who built your vehicle.

What changed for manufacturers that opted in

1. A firm deadline

A lawsuit must be filed no later than one year after the express warranty expires, and no more than six years after the vehicle was first delivered. A long warranty does not stretch that six-year limit.

2. Written notice before suing

If you want to ask for civil penalties, you send the manufacturer a written notice at least 30 days before filing, to the address the manufacturer names. The manufacturer then has a chance to respond.

3. Mediation

After the manufacturer answers the lawsuit, both sides go to mediation. The case moves on to discovery and trial only if mediation does not resolve it.

4. Certified dispute programs

Manufacturers that opted in can resolve claims through a program certified under the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Arbitration Certification Program, and must tell owners about the notice requirements.

What’s still the same

• If a manufacturer can’t fix a substantial warranty defect after a reasonable number of attempts, it must replace the vehicle or refund it, at your choice.
• The law still presumes that number is reached after four repair attempts for the same problem, two for a defect that could cause death or serious injury, or 30 days out of service, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery.
• Leased vehicles have the same rights as purchased ones.
• Used vehicles are more limited: the California Supreme Court held in Rodriguez v. FCA US (2024) that a used car sold with the rest of the original warranty is generally not a “new motor vehicle” for the refund-or-replace remedy.

What it means for you

Check your dates early, keep every repair order, and don’t send a notice or sign anything from the manufacturer before getting advice. An attorney can tell you which rules apply to your vehicle.

Attorney Advertising disclaimer: Prior results do not predict or indicate a similar outcome in any future matter. The information on this page is general information about California law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If your vehicle is unsafe to drive, stop driving it and call the firm on (619) 235-0137. Figures from the federal safety regulator's record are estimates taken from the record on the date shown.