More than 20 Years of Experience Serving Southern California

Nothing is worse than seeing a check engine light flash on shortly after purchasing a car. If your vehicle is covered under California lemon law, you are entitled to receive a cash settlement or have the manufacturer replace or repurchase your problematic car, motorcycle, RV, or boat. Our firm can assist you in identifying whether you purchased a lemon and guide you on the next steps.

In California, lemon law covers:

- New cars under warranty

- Leased cars under warranty

- Certified preowned cars under warranty

How to Know if You Bought a Lemon

Not every car issue indicates that you have a lemon on your hands. However, if you recently purchased a vehicle that is still under warranty, you should not have to return to the dealer repeatedly for repairs on the same issue.

Look out for warning signs such as problems with:

- Airbags

- Steering and alignment

- Transmission issues, including sudden lack of acceleration, slipping, over-revving, or grinding and clunking noises

- Stalling or shutting off

- Headlights

- Brakes

- Electrical problems with the radio, locks, windows, or air conditioning

- Cosmetic issues like defects in car molding

- Leaks

Under California lemon law, you must give a dealership a “reasonable” number of chances to repair a problem, and this amount varies by issue. If there’s a problem affecting your immediate safety, reach out to us quickly.

There are three possible remedies available to you in a lemon law claim:

1. The manufacturer repurchases the car from you

2. The manufacturer replaces your car

3. You can receive a cash settlement, which may involve a repair supervised by the manufacturer’s representative

Under California lemon law, the defense must cover all of your legal fees if you prevail. Attorney fees will not come out of your final settlement. Furthermore, if we cannot recover compensation for you, we will not request payment of any legal fees.

What to Do Next

Our firm has helped thousands of car buyers who unknowingly purchased lemons, and we understand what makes a successful lemon law claim in California.

Here are three important steps to put yourself in the best position for a successful outcome:

1. Do not submit to arbitration: Regardless of what a dealer or manufacturer may tell you, you are not required to submit to third-party arbitration before taking legal action under state or federal lemon laws. They often rely on your lack of awareness regarding your legal rights to use the arbitration process to their advantage. Don’t give them the upper hand.

2. Keep detailed records of all your trips to the dealer: From the moment you purchase your vehicle through every phone call or trip to the dealer for repairs, maintain written records of everything. Ensure that the service representative provides a full explanation of what they examined and the work performed. Having comprehensive records will strengthen your lemon law claim by demonstrating the challenges you faced in getting a functional car.

3. Hire an experienced lemon law attorney: You don’t have to let dealers and manufacturers take advantage of you. We understand California lemon law and your rights. We can advocate for you and guide you through the entire process, aiming for a suitable settlement or fighting for you in court if necessary.

Why You Should Hire an Attorney

Attorney Robert Starr has been handling lemon law claims for over 20 years. We are well-versed in the tactics manufacturers and dealers may use to limit their damages. Let us help you file a successful lemon law claim and ensure you receive the respect you deserve as a consumer.