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California Lemon Law

Diba Alemi, experienced Lemon Law lawyer in California, providing legal help to clients with defective vehicle cases.

Understanding the California Lemon Law (Made Simple)

The California Lemon Law (Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act) protects consumers who buy or lease a vehicle that turns out to be defective. If your car, truck, or SUV has a problem that affects its use, value, or safety, and the dealership cannot repair it under warranty after a reasonable number of attempts (sometimes as few as two), the manufacturer may be required to buy back or replace your vehicle.

This law applies to:

- New vehicles
- Leased vehicles
- Used cars purchased as Certified Pre-Owned (CPO)
- Cars, trucks, SUVs, EVs, hybrids, motorcycles, and more

If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, the manufacturer must promptly repurchase or replace it.
Do I Qualify for the California Lemon Law?
Use this quick checklist to see if you may have a claim:
1. Your vehicle is covered by a warranty
  • Factory warranty
  • Powertrain warranty
  • Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) warranty
2. There is a defect that affects use, value, or safety
Examples: engine problems, transmission issues, electrical failures, battery/EV faults, safety system malfunctions, overheating, warning lights, stalling, etc.
3. You took the vehicle to an authorized dealership for repairs
Lemon Law applies only when the repairs are attempted at a dealership, not a third-party mechanic.
4. The issue continues after multiple repair attempts
This can be as few as two attempts for serious safety defects.
OR the vehicle was at the dealership for a significant number of days
Usually 30+ cumulative days for warranty repairs.
5. The problem occurred during the warranty period
You don’t need to still be under warranty today — only that the issue started during the warranty.
If you checked even one of these boxes, you may qualify for a buyback or replacement.

What This Means for You

If your California vehicle keeps breaking down during warranty period and the dealership cannot fix the problem, you may be entitled to:

- A full refund (repurchase)
- A replacement vehicle
- Civil penalties in some cases
- Reimbursement for rental, towing, and out-of-pocket expenses

And the manufacturer pays your attorney’s fees, not you.
Why Hire a California Lemon Law Attorney?
Manufacturers often try to:

- Deny your claim
- Blame the driver
- Downplay the severity of the defect
- Delay refunds or replacements
With Alemi Law Group, PC, you get:
  • Review of all repair orders
  • Communication with the manufacturer
  • Filing and handling of your claim
  • Strong negotiation and litigation experience
  • A team committed to getting you a full refund or replacement
No Out-of-Pocket Costs
Under California Lemon Law, the manufacturer pays our attorney’s fees and costs. You keep your compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many repair attempts are required for my vehicle to qualify as a “lemon”?
There is no exact number, but two or more repair attempts for the same problem may be enough - especially if the issue affects the use, value, or safety of the vehicle.

Your vehicle may also qualify if it has spent 30 or more days at the dealership for warranty repairs, even if those days were for different issues.

The seriousness of the defect and the repair history both play an important.

No. As long as the defect occurred during the warranty period, you may still qualify for protection under the California Lemon Law, even if the warranty has expired.


Keep in mind that California’s statute of limitations for Lemon Law claims is six years from the vehicle’s original purchase date.

Yes — if the used vehicle was purchased as Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) and still carried a manufacturer warranty.

You may receive a refund, replacement vehicle, civil penalties, and reimbursement for related expenses. The manufacturer also pays your attorney’s fees.

Lemon Law case timelines can range from a few months to over a year. While many claims settle within 60–90 days, others take longer depending on the manufacturer, the severity of the defect, and how quickly the automaker cooperates during the process.

A buyback typically includes:

  • Down payment
  • Monthly payments
  • Taxes and fees
  • Registration
  • Rental and towing (in many cases)
  • Payoff of your loan balance

You may still qualify for a Lemon Law claim. Many defects are intermittent, and it’s common for dealerships to say they “cannot verify” or “cannot duplicate” the issue.

To strengthen your case, it helps to:

  • Take photos or videos showing the issue when it happens
  • Show the footage to the service advisor and ask them to note it in the repair order
  • Try a different dealership, since another service department may diagnose or document the problem more accurately

Even if the issue doesn’t show up during a test drive, we can still rely on:

  • Diagnostic codes
  • Repair notes
  • Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)
  • Recalls
  • Patterns of similar complaints

Intermittent problems are still problems—and your vehicle may still qualify as a lemon.

Nothing. Under California Lemon Law, the manufacturer pays your attorney’s fees and costs.

Free California Lemon Law Case Review

If your vehicle keeps having issues, we can help determine whether it qualifies as a lemon.
We represent consumers across all of California.

📞 Call: (818) 946-9911
📩 Email: info@alemilawgrp.com

Get answers. Get protection. Get your refund or replacement.

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