The word “lemon” has long been applied to undesirable items, but since the 1970’s it’s been synonymous with a defective vehicle thanks to a popular Volkswagen ad featuring a VW Bug and the single word—Lemon. The ad assured buyers that Volkswagen’s quality control caught lemons before they were shipped to showrooms. Today, the Lemon Law in California allows car buyers to seek compensation from vehicle manufacturers when the car, truck, or SUV they purchased in good faith has a persistent defect or malfunction.
Call Young & Young APC today if you think your defective vehicle in Huntington Beach qualifies for a California Lemon Law buyback, refund, or replacement vehicle.
Why Choose Us at Young & Young APC?
The Huntington Beach Lemon Law attorneys of Young & Young APC have over 20 years of experience and a track record of success in recovering millions of dollars for our clients.
Let the skilled attorneys at Young & Young APC streamline your claim with the following benefits:
We offer free case evaluations and charge you no attorney fees—the vehicle manufacturer must cover all legal fees
Our team takes a resolution-oriented approach to achieve prompt action in your case
We have a well-known reputation for achieving millions of dollars for our Lemon Law clients in Huntington Beach so manufacturers are less likely to dispute your claim
We have a 99-percent success rate in Lemon Law claims in California
The Huntington Beach Lemon Law lawyers at Young & Young APC are ready to hear about your defective vehicle and begin an individualized strategy to recover your losses.
What Is a Lemon?
The California Civil Code §1793.22, holds the manufacturer of your vehicle responsible for selling you a lemon. The law states:
“ §1793.22 requires vehicle manufacturers to replace a new vehicle, or make restitution to the consumer if, after making a reasonable number of attempts to repair it, the vehicle does not conform to applicable warranties.”
Under this law, your vehicle is a lemon if you have sent it back to the dealership for repairs for one or more mechanical issues and the repairs have not been successful. If the defect is serious enough to lower the value of your vehicle or make it unsafe or impractical to drive, then it’s a lemon under California Law.
Does the California Lemon Law Apply to Leased Vehicles and Pre-Owned Vehicles?
The California Lemon Law protects new car buyers, but it also covers those who lease vehicles in good faith or buy a pre-owned vehicle. If you leased a vehicle with one or more defects and multiple repair attempts have failed to correct the problem, then a Lemon Law claim can refund the amount you paid toward the lease or provide a replacement vehicle of similar make and value.
Used vehicles are also covered by the Lemon Law as long as they were sold with a written warranty issued at the time of sale and the repair attempts were still covered under the original factory warranty.
How To Know If Your Car Qualifies as a Lemon
The original wording of the Lemon Law in California leaves the phrase “repeated repair attempts” open to interpretation but under the court’s precedents, your car is a lemon in California when the following applies:
The vehicle was purchased or leased within the state of California
It’s repair attempts were covered under the terms of its original manufacturer’s warranty
The vehicle wasn’t misused
The vehicle has had four or more repair attempts, or
It’s been in for repairs two or more times for a defect that causes a safety hazard
The vehicle has been in repair shops for 30 or more days (the days do not have to be consecutive)
Under the terms of the warranty, you shouldn’t have to keep sending your vehicle in for failed repair attempts. A Lemon Law claim in Huntington Beach can make things right.
How Long is the Lemon Law Process in California?
The amount of time a Lemon Law claim takes depends on the complexity of the case and the availability of evidence, such as repair invoices and receipts for related expenses. The average Lemon Law claim in Huntington Beach takes a few months, but some cases move far faster. If the manufacturer disputes the cause of the car’s defect, the claim could take six months or more to be litigated in court.
Call Our Huntington Beach Lemon Law Attorneys Today
No one should have to drive a vehicle they cannot depend on for safe, reliable transportation. Unfortunately, powerful manufacturers protect their profits, often by steering Lemon Law claimants toward arbitration which is rarely the right way to go for your claim. Instead of taking on a Lemon Law claim alone, call the attorneys at Young & Young APC for the skilled representation your claim deserves.
