The Orange County lemon law attorneys at Young & Young APC exclusively handle California lemon law claims. Our attorneys represent consumers in Orange County and throughout the state. If you think you purchased or leased a lemon vehicle from a dealership, you need an experienced and dedicated team of attorneys on your side. Our attorneys have successfully resolved lemon law cases against every major auto manufacturer. Unlike other lemon law firms, we do not charge our clients retainer fees or contingency fees. When you hire our firm, you pay nothing out of pocket for experienced lemon law attorney representation in Orange County and throughout California.
If you are tired of taking your vehicle to the dealership for warranty repairs, contact our California lemon law attorneys in Orange County today. We offer free lemon law consultations, carefully evaluate your case and provide valuable information so that you may confidently pursue your legal rights.
Why Choose Us?
We understand how inconvenient and overwhelming it can be to drive a lemon and constantly have to take your vehicle in for repairs. Our lawyers have the staff and resources to make the legal process as easy as possible for you and your family.
We are highly experienced and knowledgeable Orange County Lemon Law lawyers. Our attorneys have exclusively handled these types of cases for many years. In that time, we have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients.
You can enjoy benefits such as a free initial case evaluation, frequent communication with your attorney, constant updates about the status of your case, personalized legal services and no fees out of pocket for high-quality representation, win or lose.
Do I Need an Orange County Lemon Law Attorney to Pursue My Claim?
Car dealerships and auto manufacturers have “customer assistance” personnel and attorneys that specialize in California lemon law claims. Our Orange County lemon law attorneys have the experience and resources necessary to level the playing field and obtain the compensation you deserve. Our team of lemon law attorneys will aggressively fight to protect your rights and get the results you deserve.
Do not let the dealer or manufacturer take advantage of you. When you hire our firm, you get a team of experienced and dedicated lemon law attorneys to fight for you. We fully explain the process each step of the way so that you fully understand your options. Manufacturers and dealerships may give you the runaround or mislead you regarding your rights under the California lemon law. Unlike in other states, California does not require consumers to participate in the arbitration to resolve their Lemon Law claims.
Our attorneys are dedicated to protecting our clients’ lemon law rights in Irvine, Orange, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Fullerton, Tustin, Garden Grove, Mission Viejo, Brea, Lake Forest, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, all of Orange County and throughout California.
Our attorneys have large national law firm litigation experience. We use this experience to effectively and aggressively prosecute lemon law claims on behalf of our clients.
What Is California’s Lemon Law?
The California lemon law is also commonly referred to as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. It is found in the California Civil Code, starting in section 1791. Under this act, manufacturers owe certain obligations to consumers under implied and express warranties. The Lemon Law protects Orange County residents that have purchased or leased a new or certified pre-owned used vehicle within the manufacturer’s original warranty period.
In California, the lemon law requires a manufacturer to promptly repurchase or replace a vehicle when the dealership is unable to repair it after a “reasonable” number of repair attempts or within a reasonable amount of time. What is “reasonable” depends on the circumstances, such as the severity of the defect. If the Lemon Law applies to a case, a vehicle manufacturer must provide a remedy at no cost to the consumer.
When Is a Vehicle a Lemon?
A specific part of the Lemon Law under California Civil Code, Section 1793.22 is also known as the Tanner Consumer Protection Act. This gives a “Lemon Law presumption period.” It states that a vehicle is presumed to be a lemon if one of the following occurs in the first 18 months from delivery to the consumer or within 18,000 miles of the vehicle’s use, whichever occurs first:
The manufacturer has made two or more attempts to repair a serious defect covered under a warranty that could potentially result in bodily injury or death
The manufacturer has made four or more attempts to repair a warranty-covered vehicle defect that substantially affects the usage, value or safety of the vehicle
The vehicle has been out of service for at least 30 cumulative days for repairs for a warranty-covered defect
If the presumption period applies to your case, a manufacturer has to offer a remedy. However, a vehicle in California does not have to be within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles to qualify as a lemon. Under the California Lemon Law, it is still possible to have a successful case even after the presumption period has ended as long as the repair attempts occurred within the warranty period.
Common Defects in Lemon Law Cases in Orange County
A vehicle that qualifies as a lemon under state law could contain many different types of defects. These defects can affect individual parts (other than after-market parts), the chassis, or drivetrain. If the defect impacts the usage or safety of the vehicle, it can make the car a lemon. Note that the defect does not have to have already caused a car accident to qualify for a repurchase or vehicle replacement under the Lemon Law. Common examples include:
Air conditioner mold
Anti-lock brake system problems
Automatic transmission failure
Brake failure
Cruise control malfunctions
Defective airbags or seat belts
Electrical problems
Engine failures
Engine fires
Fuel injection system leaks
Headlight malfunctions
Power steering issues
Problems with the body
Sudden or uncontrolled acceleration
Windshield wiper malfunctions
If you experience a defect of any kind with a new or certified pre-owned used vehicle in Orange County, take your vehicle in to the dealership for repairs without delay. Waiting too long to have a defect or issue looked at could give the manufacturer the opportunity to blame you for the problem.
What Vehicle Makes and Models Are Most Often Involved in Lemon Law Cases?
Data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that certain automobile manufacturers are at the center of defect complaints and Lemon Law cases more often than others. Below are the top 10 auto manufacturers in terms of auto defects and the number of complaints the NHTSA received about them from 2020 to 2022:
If you experienced issues or nonconformities with any of these makes, you may be entitled to financial compensation or another remedy from the automaker. The top five vehicles with the highest number of complaints during this period were the Ford Fusion (1,858), Ford Escape (1,832), Ford F-150 (1,728), Jeep Grand Cherokee (1,360) and Ford Explorer (1,359).
What Counts as a Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts Under the California Lemon Law?
The California lemon law does not state a required number of repair attempts. A “reasonable” number of repair attempts is determined on a case-by-case basis in relation to the type of the vehicle’s defect. For safety-related defects, this could mean as few as two repair opportunities at the manufacturer’s authorized repair facility. This requirement may also be satisfied if the vehicle is in the repair facility for a cumulative total of over 30 days for repair (not necessarily all at one time).
What Remedies Are Available if My Car Qualifies as a Lemon?
If you have been sold a lemon vehicle, you could be entitled to compensation through the California lemon law. At Young & Young APC, our practice is exclusively dedicated to prosecuting California lemon law claims and we provide free lemon law attorney consultations in Orange County and throughout the state. Under the California lemon law, you may be entitled to the following:
A refund of all amounts paid or payable for the purchase or lease of your vehicle (less a statutory mileage offset or “good use” credit for miles driven before the first repair attempt); or
A replacement vehicle of the same MSRP value; or
A cash settlement.
In the event of a vehicle with a defect or “nonconformity,” a manufacturer is obligated to repair the vehicle within a reasonable amount of time or number of repair attempts within the warranty period. If timely repairs are not possible, the manufacturer must comply with one of the above-mentioned remedies based on the option desired by the consumer. An attorney can help you achieve the remedy to which you are entitled under the California Lemon Law.
How to File a Lemon Law Claim in California
Filing a Lemon Law case in Orange County for a defective vehicle takes a few steps and actions on your part as the consumer. You can also choose to hire an attorney to take care of these tasks for you, at the expense of the auto manufacturer:
Take your vehicle in for (attempted) repairs. Bring your vehicle to an authorized manufacturer repair facility or dealership for repairs – not an independent auto shop.
Accurately report your concerns. Tell the mechanic or dealership exactly what the issue is and make sure your complaint is accurately reflected in the repair order.
Keep all documentation. Collect copies of repair orders, bills and receipts, out-of-pocket expenses, correspondence with the auto manufacturer, and any other documents relevant to the issue.
File your claim without delay. If you believe your vehicle is a lemon, file a Lemon Law claim with the auto manufacturing company as soon as possible. California law gives you no more than four years from the date that you discovered that your vehicle is a lemon to file this type of case.
An experienced Orange County Lemon Law attorney can help you file a claim and negotiate with an automobile manufacturer for fair results. It is especially important to hire an attorney if a manufacturer denies your allegations, blames you for the issue or refuses to provide a fair remedy.
GET A FREE CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW CASE EVALUATION
For a free initial case evaluation and consultation with one of our California Lemon Law lawyers, call (833) 536-6600, or fill out our free California Lemon Law case evaluation form.
