Orange County New Car Lemons
Helping Orange County Drivers with Defective New Vehicles
Buying a new car is a significant financial decision and essential for every Californian. But sometimes, the car you purchase or lease turns out to be faulty or even worse — a lemon. This can leave you feeling frustrated, angry, and helpless as you’re stuck with something that does not meet your expectations or threatens your safety.
If this has happened to you in Orange County, there are laws in place designed to help protect consumers. These laws provide recourse for consumers who have purchased or leased new cars that do not meet their intended purpose.
The first step to pursuing legal action under California's Lemon Law is to contact an experienced lemon law attorney. At O’Connor Law Group, our knowledgeable lemon law lawyers can review your case, assist you with filing a claim, negotiate with the manufacturer, and represent you in court, all at no charge.
Is your brand-new vehicle constantly in the shop? Call O’Connor Law Group, P.C. today at (949) 390-9695 or contact us online to find out if you qualify for compensation under California’s Lemon Law.
What Is a Lemon?
A lemon is a term used to describe a new car that has repeated issues under warranty. To be eligible for relief under California's Lemon Law, these issues must affect the use, value, safety, or reliability.
Common issues with a lemon can include:
- Mechanical failures include the engine, Transmission, Fuel System, Cooling system, HVAC, suspension, emissions, steering, and ignition.
- Safety issues: Cars with safety issues, such as faulty brakes, airbags, seatbelts, hands-free/Bluetooth, collision sensors, or backup cameras, are often considered lemons.
- Lack of features: If the car lacks features that were promised at purchase, it may also qualify as a lemon.
If your situation meets these criteria, you may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer. The criteria for determining what constitutes a lemon in California are outlined in the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Also known as California’s Lemon Law, it requires that manufacturers provide compensation or replacement for a vehicle that has failed multiple repair attempts and is still substantially defective in a way that impairs its use, value, or safety. Whether your car was purchased with cash, financed, or leased, any new vehicle under warranty is protected by California's Lemon Law.
A "substantial defect" is sometimes called a “nonconformity,” which means that the vehicle does not perform as described in its new vehicle warranty, or does not meet the requirements of its implied warranties. For example, if your new car has an engine that does not run properly or brakes that fail when applied, these could be considered substantial defects. To qualify for compensation under California’s Lemon Law, your vehicle must have significant defects that have not been fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts.
If you believe your car fits these criteria, you may be able to take legal action against the manufacturer or seller of the car and receive compensation for any damages incurred due to the faulty product. This could include costs related to repairs, reimbursement, or replacement of the vehicle, as well as any other expenses, including attorney fees.
Trust O’Connor Law Group to Help You with Your New Car Lemon Case
At O’Connor Law Group, we understand how disheartening it can be when something goes wrong with a new purchase — especially a new vehicle. Our Orange County lemon law lawyers are here to help if you are in this unfortunate situation. We have extensive experience helping clients with new car lemon cases and can assist you with pursuing a claim. We never charge our clients for these services.
At O’Connor Law Group, our knowledgeable lemon law lawyers can assist you throughout every step of the legal process related to your lemon. With decades of combined experience representing consumers in Orange County, we have a proven track record of helping our clients get fair compensation for their defective vehicles so they can move forward without fear of further costs or hassle caused by their purchase. Don’t let a defective vehicle ruin your life.
Take the first step toward getting rid of your defective vehicle. Contact O’Connor Law Group now to speak with an experienced Orange County new car lemon lawyer at no cost!
Our FAQ
Have More? Contact Us!
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Should I pay for my car repairs under warranty?
Generally, you should not have to pay for repairs under warranty. Per the terms of your New Vehicle Limited Warranty, the manufacturer agrees to cover the costs of parts and labor during the warranty period. In some instances, the manufacturer may determine the warranty has been voided. Common reasons for a warranty to be voided include misuse or abuse of the vehicle and certain modifications to the vehicle.
We recommend consulting with the manufacturer prior to modifying your vehicle. If you feel the manufacturer has unfairly determined you violated the terms of the warranty, then you should contact our firm.
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Should I save records of my car repairs?
Yes, when you take your car to the dealership for repairs, it’s important to ensure you have documentation of all the problems and the associated repair orders.
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What Am I Entitled to if My Vehicle Qualifies Under the California Lemon Law?
If your vehicle qualifies under the California Lemon Law, you may be entitled to a refund of your down payment and monthly finance payments, as well as a discharge of your vehicle loan. You may also be entitled to reimbursement of incidental damages such as rental car expenses, repair costs, and towing expenses.
If offered by the manufacturer, you may choose to have your vehicle replaced with a similar vehicle instead of having your money refunded.
