Turn a defective car into a full refund.

Under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a vehicle may be a lemon if it has a defect that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety and the manufacturer cannot fix it within a reasonable number of attempts. What we care about is whether the defect first occurred during the original manufacturer warranty. Manufacturers sometimes push an 18-month / 18,000-mile story online. That window is not required to have a case, and it does not decide whether you have a good case.

Substantial impairment means a defect that significantly affects the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. Examples courts and manufacturers often recognize include repeated engine or transmission failures, chronic stalling, brake or steering problems, persistent electrical failures that leave the car unreliable, and safety systems that fail intermittently. Cosmetic issues alone usually do not qualify unless they also affect safety or resale value in a meaningful way.

The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act is California’s primary Lemon Law statute (California Civil Code sections 1790 et seq.). It requires manufacturers to honor express and implied warranties on consumer goods, including motor vehicles sold or leased in California. When a warranted defect cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must offer a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement. Manufacturers always pay our attorney fees, or the representation is free - you never pay our fees.

No. An 18-month / 18,000-mile timeline is not required to have a California Lemon Law case. Manufacturers have pushed a lot of false information online about that window. What we care about is whether the defect first occurred during the original manufacturer warranty. A CLINE APC attorney can sort out the timeline with your repair history.

Yes. California’s Lemon Law can apply to new, certified pre-owned, and many used vehicles, whether purchased or leased, as long as the defect arose and was reported while the vehicle was still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. It also covers cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, boats, and RVs sold with a manufacturer warranty in California.

Yes, when they are consumer vehicles sold with a manufacturer’s written warranty and the defect substantially impairs use, value, or safety. RV claims often turn on whether the defective component (chassis, coach, or appliance) is covered by the manufacturer warranty and whether repair attempts are documented. Boats and motorcycles follow the same substantial-impairment and reasonable-repair-attempt framework as passenger cars.