FAQ

Under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a vehicle may qualify if it has a defect covered by the manufacturer’s warranty that substantially impairs its use, value or safety, and the manufacturer or its dealers can’t fix it after a reasonable number of repair attempts. Every situation is different, so the surest way to know is to have your repair history reviewed. Read more about California lemon law.

There’s no single number. The law requires a “reasonable number” of attempts, and it presumes a new vehicle is a lemon if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles, the same serious safety defect was repaired 2 or more times, the same defect was repaired 4 or more times, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs for more than 30 days. A vehicle can still qualify outside these guidelines. Read more about California lemon law.

Leased vehicles are covered. Used vehicles are more limited since a 2024 California Supreme Court decision. Read more about used car lemon law.

Depending on the case, the manufacturer may have to buy the vehicle back (refunding what you paid, minus a deduction for use before the first repair) or replace it. You may also recover out-of-pocket costs like towing and rentals. Some cases resolve with a cash settlement that lets you keep the vehicle. Learn how a lemon law buyback works.

Possibly. Those limits apply only to the presumption described above. A defect the manufacturer couldn’t fix in a reasonable number of attempts while the vehicle was under warranty can still qualify. Read more about California lemon law.

Common examples include a dealer hiding prior accident, flood or frame damage; misrepresenting a vehicle’s history, mileage or condition; changing financing terms after you drive off the lot (“yo-yo” financing); and adding products or fees you didn’t agree to. Read more about auto fraud.

Don’t sign a new contract or agree to new terms until you understand your options. Read more about yo-yo financing.

Possibly. If the dealer knew about prior accident, flood or frame damage and hid it, or told you the vehicle had no damage when it did, you may have a claim. A vehicle history report, an inspection report and your purchase paperwork are good places to start. Read more about auto fraud.

Possibly. Auto fraud claims can be brought against dealerships of any size, and in some cases against the company that financed the purchase. Read more about auto fraud.

Your purchase or lease contract, all repair orders and invoices, any written communication with the dealer or manufacturer, and photos or videos of the problem. Don’t worry if you’re missing something; we can help track records down.

Yes. Time limits depend on your claim and, for lemon law, on your vehicle’s manufacturer, so reach out as soon as you suspect a problem. Learn about lemon law deadlines.

We’ll explain how our fees work before you decide to hire us, and the terms will be in a written agreement you can review.

Not necessarily. Many cases resolve through negotiation or settlement. If a case does go further, we’ll explain each step and what to expect.

Yes. Se habla español. Let us know your preferred language on our form or when you call.

Yes. Faler Law Group also helps drivers in Arizona with lemon law and auto fraud claims, working with an Arizona-licensed attorney. For Arizona cases, we handle the claim before a lawsuit is filed. If the case needs to go to court, we’ll let you know, and you would need to hire a separate law firm for the lawsuit. Arizona’s lemon law has its own rules and deadlines, so let us know where you bought or registered your vehicle when you reach out.