Lemon Law: Don’t Let A Lemon Sour Your Commute

What is a lemon? A vehicle qualifies as a “lemon” if, within the original manufacturer’s warranty period, the vehicle suffers from a nonconformity that substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of repair attempts. Simply stated, if your vehicle has suffered from the same problem or problems, but the dealership is unable to repair the vehicle, your vehicle may be a lemon.

At the Law Offices of Choi & Associates, our lemon law attorneys can help you learn more about your faulty vehicle and what you can do about it. Our skilled team has decades of experience, and we can help you seek compensation.

Lemon Law Requirement: Does Your Car Qualify?

In California, a vehicle is “presumed” to be a lemon if:

1. Your vehicle has been submitted to a dealership on two or more repair attempts for the same nonconformity that is likely to cause serious bodily injury or death within the first 18 months or 18,0000 miles of the purchase or lease of the vehicle or within the warranty period, whichever is earlier, and the nonconformity continues to exist.

2. Your vehicle has been submitted to a dealership on four or more repair or more repair attempts for the same nonconformity within the first 18 months or 18,0000 miles of the purchase of the vehicle or within the warranty period, whichever is earlier, and the nonconformity continues to exist.

3. Your vehicle has been submitted to a dealership for 30 or more days in the manufacturer’s repair facility within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles of purchase or lease of the vehicle.

YOUR VEHICLE MAY STILL BE A LEMON, EVEN IF IT DOES NOT FIT THE CRITERIA ABOVE.

Lemons Can Hide Outside Presumptions

Auto manufacturers would like consumers to think that cases that fall outside the above presumptions do not qualify as “lemons.” However, even vehicles that have repair attempts outside the presumption can qualify as lemons. The standard is simply that the manufacturer has had a reasonable number of repair attempts to repair a nonconformity within the warranty period but has been unable to do so.

Therefore, even if your vehicle started to suffer from problems after 18,000 miles, so long as you had a reasonable number of repair attempts within the warranty period for the nonconformity, your vehicle may be a lemon.

New Car, Refund Or Cash? Know Your Lemon Law Options

1. Replacement of the vehicle with a new vehicle that is the same make with the same options, less a mileage offset.
2. Repurchase the vehicle and refund the full purchase price, including all sales taxes, license fees, registration fees and other similar governmental charges, less a mileage offset.
3. Cash and keep: You keep the vehicle and receive cash compensation.

Attorneys Fees

The manufacturer is required to pay a reasonable hourly rate for attorneys fees. In the event of a “cash and keep” settlement or verdict, we charge a percentage of the recovery. In any event, there are no attorneys fees if there is no recovery.

Stuck With A Lemon In Los Angeles?

Do not let a faulty car cost you more time and money. Our lemon law attorneys in Los Angeles can help you get the compensation you deserve. We offer free consultations, so contact us today at 213-592-3309 or visit our contact page for more information.