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We get it, there's nothing more frustrating than investing your hard-earned money into a new car, only to find out it's defective. The constant trips to the repair shop, the safety concerns, and the overall disappointment can be overwhelming. But don't worry, you're not alone. Many consumers face this issue and that's where the Lemon Law comes in.

According to the Auto Lemon Index, in California from 2018 to 2021, there were 7.6 million new car registrations, and 34,397 lemon law cases filed, representing 0.45 percent of all new vehicles sold. A lemon is a car that cannot be operated due to one or more safety defects.

Throughout your lifetime, you’ll likely own several cars. Some of them you may purchase new, some used, and some you may only have for a few years. Sometimes you may own what you think is a new, “good” car when in fact, it turns out to be a lemon. But what really is a “lemon” in the eyes of the law? And what should you do if you think you have a “lemon” on your hands?

If you took a car loan for a vehicle that turned out to be a lemon, you might have many questions regarding your loan obligations. Are you still responsible for paying the loan or do the payments freeze during a lemon law case?

It’s common for people to refer to a car that frequently breaks down as a “lemon,” but the legal definition of a “lemon” car is much more narrowly focused. In fact, according to a report put out by the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG), fewer than one-half of one percent of vehicles end up being part of a lemon law claim. Still, if you find yourself in the unlucky position of having purchased a defective vehicle, it’s in your best interest to obtain legal counsel for a lemon law claim to ensure you get the compensation you’re due.

Nobody sets out to purchase a lemon car, but even the most judicious car buyers may find themselves stuck with one. That said, there are several steps individuals can take before buying a new car to prevent this from happening.

Transmission issues can be a headache for vehicle owners. Fortunately, California provides lemon law protections to those who purchase or lease defective vehicles. If you are experiencing transmission problems with your car and believe your vehicle meets the criteria of a lemon, reach out to Law Offices of Kevin Faulk to get help.

There’s no worse feeling than buying a new product and finding out that it doesn’t work the way it was advertised and you’ve just wasted your money. This is especially true when you’ve bought a new car only to find it’s defective, commonly referred to as having a “lemon.” According to a report put out by the Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS), some car makes and models are more likely to be lemons than others.

According to a 2022 report put out by Carfax, California leads the nation with the most vehicles with open recalls at around 5.6 million. While most recalls can be repaired or addressed fairly quickly, there are others that are not and will be subject to lemon law.