Finding out your car has a recurring issue can be frustrating, especially when the dealership refuses to repair it. In San Diego, drivers face this all too common scenario, but they don’t have to navigate it alone. California’s lemon law protects consumers, ensuring they aren’t left bearing the costs of a defective vehicle. Suppose the dealership won’t fix your car.
California’s lemon law, formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, covers vehicles with unrepairable issues that significantly impact their safety, usability, or value. Under this law, if your car meets the specific lemon law requirements, you may be entitled to a replacement or refund from the manufacturer.
For a vehicle to be deemed a “lemon,” the manufacturer must have had a reasonable number of attempts to fix the issue, yet the problem persists.
This usually means two or more repair attempts for a severe safety issue or four attempts for a non-safety issue within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles. If the dealership continues to refuse repairs, a lemon law attorney in San Diego can help you determine if your case meets the requirements and advise on the next steps.
When the dealership refuses to address your car’s issues, the next step is often to contact the vehicle manufacturer directly. Manufacturers can usually exert more authority over dealerships, and direct complaints can sometimes prompt quicker responses. To strengthen your case, keep detailed records of each repair attempt, including dates, dealership communications, and receipts.
If contacting the manufacturer does not resolve the issue, consulting the best lemon law attorney in San Diego can help escalate the matter further. A skilled attorney can communicate directly with the manufacturer on your behalf, increasing the likelihood of a favorable outcome.
Once you’ve exhausted attempts with the dealership and manufacturer, filing a lemon law claim may be the best action. California’s lemon law applies to new and used cars with a warranty, meaning you could qualify for coverage if your vehicle were sold with any dealer or manufacturer warranty.
If your car fits within the Lemon law requirements, you may be eligible for a full refund, a vehicle replacement, or monetary compensation. Hiring a lemon law attorney near San Diego can be highly beneficial at this stage, as they can help ensure your claim is filed correctly and represented well.
Navigating a lemon law case can be complex, especially when you’re up against large dealerships and manufacturers. Seeking the best lemon law attorney in San Diego will help you better understand your rights, avoid common pitfalls, and improve your chances of winning the case. When selecting an attorney, look for firms with a proven track record in lemon law cases, such as Premier Legal Center, APC. Many lemon law attorneys in San Diego work on a contingency basis, so you only pay if you win.
Additional legal action may be required if the dealership refuses repairs despite repeated attempts. Your attorney can help gather necessary documentation, like records of repair attempts, to build a strong case. In cases where the dealership refuses to cooperate fully, the manufacturer may become legally obligated to provide a remedy—either a buyback or a replacement.
With an experienced lemon law attorney in San Diego advocating for you, your attorney can take legal steps to compel the manufacturer to resolve the matter. In many cases, the presence of a legal representative will encourage cooperation from both the dealership and the manufacturer.
If your vehicle has an extended warranty, certified pre-owned (CPO) warranty, or any aftermarket warranty, these can sometimes cover issues outside the standard manufacturer’s warranty. An extended warranty could pay for repairs the dealership may have initially refused, helping you keep repair costs down. However, these additional warranties don’t typically impact your rights under California’s lemon law. Even if an additional warranty covers a repair, you are entitled to lemon law protections if the defect persists and meets the state’s law requirements.
If the dealership has attempted repairs multiple times without success or has refused repairs altogether, you may be able to recover costs for out-of-pocket expenses. For example, if you paid for diagnostics or repairs that didn’t fix the issue, these expenses can often be included in a lemon law claim. By partnering with a lemon law attorney near San Diego, you’ll have an advocate to help recover these costs and ensure that all out-of-pocket expenses are considered in your final settlement.
