What Qualifies a Vehicle as a Lemon?

Unfortunately, many people out there driving their vehicles on a regular basis do not know that they are driving a lemon or that there are even protections in place on the federal and state level to protect consumers when they purchase or lease a lemon. Driving a lemon can be dangerous if the issues you’ve experienced are related to the safety of your vehicle, but even a car that has usage defects or other issues unrelated to safety can qualify as a lemon. Because lemon laws differ from state to state, it’s important to understand the lemon law process and what qualifies a vehicle as a lemon in your state. At California Lemon Attorneys, we specialize in assisting our clients throughout the entire process of a lemon law claim, from evaluating your circumstances and determining whether your vehicle qualifies as a lemon to the very end of their case. If you believe you could be driving a lemon or are interested in learning more about lemon law in California…

What Makes My Car a Lemon?

When evaluating whether a car is a lemon or not, there are two main conditions that you must consider. These conditions are whether your car is under warranty and whether you have had an unreasonable amount of repairs.

Under Warranty

When you purchase or lease a vehicle in California, both new and used, your car comes with a manufacturer’s warranty that covers specific issues related to your vehicle. The key here is that the defects or problems that occur with your vehicle and require repair must fall under your original manufacturer’s warranty that was established when you bought or leased your vehicle.

Unreasonable Amount of Repairs

Your vehicle is generally considered a lemon in California when your manufacturer is not able to fix your vehicle after what’s considered a reasonable amount of repairs. Because “reasonable” is so broad, there is no legal number for how many repairs this must be. However, the California Lemon Law Presumption provides an outline for what is considered reasonable in individual situations.

What Defects Are Common to Lemons?

When you purchase or lease a new vehicle, most manufacturer’s warranties can last multiple years and cover your vehicle for a large amount of miles. While the problems you experience with your vehicle must fall under your manufacturer’s warranty, they must also be considered significant in a way that impairs the use, safety, or value of the vehicle under California law. There are, however, some common defects that occur with vehicles that are classified as lemons that you should keep record of if you experience. These defects include problems related to:

Transmission
Engine
Suspension
Air Conditioning
Electrical
Brakes
Battery

If You Believe You May Be Driving a Lemon,
Speak With an Attorney Today

At California Lemon Attorneys, we understand how stressful and scary it can be when your vehicle has issues that put you and your passengers’ safety at risk. No one should have to drive a car that they don’t feel confident in when they get on the road. However, filing a lemon law claim and proving that your car is a lemon can be challenging if you aren’t familiar with the legal requirements and expectations of lemon law. That’s why hiring an experienced attorney is in your best interest, so you can be confident knowing that you are in the hands of a lawyer who knows what they’re doing and can provide the best results. If you believe you are driving a lemon, don’t wait to consult a lemon law attorney. If you’re interested in speaking with a lemon law attorney regarding your situation, please give us a call at 310-922-1199 or email us at info@calemonattorneys.com for a free consultation.