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California’s lemon law exists to protect consumers who unknowingly purchase or lease defective vehicles that do not meet reasonable standards of quality, safety, and performance. People often assume this law applies only to cars with engine or transmission issues.
However, it covers a wide range of defects that can significantly impact a car’s usability and value. Recurring steering, air conditioning, or brake issues entitle owners to a refund or replacement. Read on to discover seven defects covered under this law in California.
What Qualifies As a Lemon in California?
California has a specific law that protects customers who buy defective vehicles that are still covered by the car manufacturer’s warranty. This lemon law, also known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, helps customers secure reimbursement for large purchases.
Under California’s lemon law, manufacturers are held liable for defects in the vehicles they manufacture. However, there must be sufficient evidence to show that the vehicle is actually defective and meets the requirements.
A vehicle is considered a lemon if it has a serious defect that the dealership or manufacturer has failed to fix after several attempts. The defect must occur while the car is still under warranty, but this means that:
There are at least two repair attempts for defects that pose significant safety risks
There are at least four attempts to repair defects that pose non-safety-related risks
The car has been out of service for at least 30 days for warranty repairs
The problem affects the vehicle’s use and value
7 Defects Covered Under the Lemon Law in California
Not every mechanical problem with a vehicle is covered under the California lemon law. In fact, the defect must affect the performance, safety, or reliability. Here are seven of the most common car defects that fall under California lemon law:
Engine failure is one of the most serious defects covered under the California lemon law. When an engine repeatedly stalls, overheats, misfires, or completely fails despite multiple repair attempts, it affects a vehicle’s safety and reliability. When the problem persists, the vehicle may qualify as a lemon.
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Transmission issues such as slipping gears, delayed shifting, grinding noises, or complete failure can affect a car’s performance and make it unsafe to drive. If these problems remain unresolved after multiple repair attempts, the manufacturer may be required to replace the vehicle or provide a refund.
Problems such as brake system malfunctions, loss of braking power, grinding, or faulty warning lights can put drivers at risk. If brake issues continue despite reasonable attempts to fix them while the car is under warranty, the vehicle may qualify as a lemon.
When airbags fail to deploy, deploy unexpectedly, or there are warning lights indicating system failure in a vehicle under warranty, the lemon law may apply. Because airbags are essential for safety, repeated malfunctions that cannot be fixed qualify a vehicle as a lemon.
Steering and Suspension Issues
Steering and suspension problems, such as excessive vibration, loss of control, and uneven tire wear, can make driving dangerous. If these issues persist after multiple repair attempts under warranty, the car may qualify as a lemon.
Electrical issues like faulty wiring, malfunctioning displays, and repeated battery drain are commonly covered under the California lemon law. When these issues persist even after manufacturers and dealerships attempt to repair them, the lemon law may apply.
Air Conditioning and Heating Issues
Heating and air conditioning problems may also qualify under the lemon law; these include failure to cool or heat properly, persistent leaks, and system breakdowns. In these situations, work with the best lemon law attorney in Los Angeles to negotiate a refund or a replacement.
The California lemon law covers defects such as engine failure, transmission problems, brake issues, airbag malfunctions, and steering and suspension problems. It also covers the electrical system problems, and air conditioning and heating issues.