Steward Legal, APC
At Steward Legal, APC, Attorney Joseph Steward provides expert evaluation of lemon-law eligibility, meticulously gathers and preserves essential evidence, negotiates assertively with manufacturers and dealers, adheres to all required notices and deadlines, and, when necessary, pursues complaints or litigation to secure refunds, replacements, or monetary damages, while offering clear guidance, proactive communication, and personalized advocacy designed to maximize relief, minimize costs, and restore trust for clients facing defective vehicles.
Are You Driving A Lemon?
You may be entitled to a replacement vehicle, refund, or cash settlement. The California lemon law attorneys at Steward Legal, APC are here to help - no cost to you.
SERVING ALL OF CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW ATTORNEY
Yes, we offer free consultations. No office visit required. We will get back to you within 24 hours and let you know if you have a case.
WHY CHOOSE OUR FIRM
At Steward Legal, APC, we understand the hardship and financial stress that a defective vehicle can cause. Our lemon law attorneys are committed to providing you with the utmost professional service, and we will fight for the compensation you deserve.
99% SUCCESS RATE
We have recovered millions for our clients and established a respected reputation with judges, manufacturers, and their attorneys.
At Steward Legal, APC, Attorney Joseph Steward provides expert evaluation of lemon-law eligibility, meticulously gathers and preserves essential evidence, negotiates assertively with manufacturers and dealers, adheres to all required notices and deadlines, and, when necessary, pursues complaints or litigation to secure refunds, replacements, or monetary damages, while offering clear guidance, proactive communication, and personalized advocacy designed to maximize relief, minimize costs, and restore trust for clients facing defective vehicles.
SUCCESSFUL CASES AGAINST
HOW CAN A CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW ATTORNEY HELP YOU?
Realizing that you’ve bought a lemon is distressing and can be overwhelming. While you may be protected under California’s Lemon Law, dealing with the process of taking your car to the shop, initiating a case, and dealing with the automotive manufacturer can be difficult on your own. An experienced and knowledgeable California lemon law attorney can make things easier. Your lawyer can guide you through the legal process – removing the burden from your shoulders and increasing your odds of a successful case.
A lawyer can navigate the Lemon Law on your behalf, starting by determining if you have a lemon under the state’s definition and whether you are eligible for a refund or replacement. If the dealership is unable to repair your vehicle within a reasonable amount of time or within a reasonable number of repair attempts within the warranty period, a Lemon Law lawyer can demand a fair resolution. While most of these cases are resolved without the need to go to trial, a lawyer can represent you in court against a manufacturer, if necessary.
WHAT IS THE CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW?
California’s Lemon Law is codified in California Civil Code, Section 1793.2. This statute protects consumers who purchase defective vehicles that cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts or within a reasonable amount of time. The California Lemon Law provides protection for those who have leased or purchased a new 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 the vehicle after a “reasonable” number of repair attempts or within a reasonable amount of time. What counts as a reasonable number of repairs depends on the unique circumstances, such as the severity of the problem and how soon it occurred after the purchase of the car.
The Lemon Law applies to new vehicles that are purchased or leased in California and are still under a manufacturer’s warranty. Even if the vehicle repair attempts did not take place within the first 18,000 miles and 18 months of use, the vehicle can qualify as a lemon if the repair attempts were made within the warranty.
A lemon can refer to cars, pickup trucks, vans, motorcycles, and SUVs. However, it does not cover defective after-market parts or equipment.
DO YOU HAVE A CASE?
When determining if you qualify for financial reimbursement or vehicle replacement under California’s Lemon Law, you can use something known as the Lemon Law presumption. This presumption states that you legally have a lemon if all of the following are true:
You purchased or leased a new vehicle with a manufacturer’s warranty
You discovered the vehicle has a defect (one that is not due to abuse of the vehicle)
The defect reduces the value, use, or safety of the vehicle
You have notified the manufacturer of the defect in writing if the warranty requires you to do so
In addition, any one of the following must be true:
The vehicle defect has received at least four repair attempts.
The vehicle defect is severe enough to cause serious bodily injury or death and has received at least two repair attempts.
The vehicle has been in the shop for more than 30 days (not necessarily consecutively).
With these elements in place, the Lemon Law presumes that you have purchased a lemon and that a reasonable number of repair attempts have been made – entitling you to compensation or vehicle replacement. However, you may still have grounds to file a Lemon Law case in California even if all of these elements are not present. Describe your situation to one of our attorneys at Steward Legal, APC during a free consultation to find out if you have a case.
COMMON DEFECTS IN LEMONS?
A vehicle defect can refer to many different types of car problems or issues with one or more of its parts. Defects can make a vehicle dangerous by posing the risk of car accidents. They can also make a vehicle difficult to use or decrease its value in other ways. Historically, the most common warranty problems that provide the basis for a Lemon Law claim include the following issues:
Acceleration problems
Air conditioner issues
Airbag malfunction
Backup camera malfunction
Brake failure
Cruise control malfunction
Defective seat belt
Electrical issues
Engine coolant system malfunction
Engine fire
Engine stalling or failure
Fuel line defect
Radio malfunction
Steering system failure
Suspension problems
Transmission malfunction
If your car breaks down or is not performing up to par, take it to an approved dealership for inspection and repairs. If multiple repair attempts still cannot fix the defect, or if the repair attempt lasts more than 30 days, you may have a lemon and be entitled to a legal remedy.
WHAT RESOLUTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR A LEMON?
You have rights as someone who is experiencing vehicle defects within your manufacturer’s warranty period. If your vehicle is deemed a lemon, the manufacturer is by law required to promptly refund the purchase or replace the vehicle. If you have purchased or leased a lemon, the law in California mandates that the auto manufacturer must:
Offer you a refund or a replacement vehicle after a certain number of repair attempts have been made on the vehicle
Pay for your reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred to pursue your Lemon Law case.
Pay for your rental vehicle, towing, and repair expenses incurred due to the vehicle's defects.
You have the right to choose a refund rather than a vehicle replacement if desired. If you encounter issues trying to exercise your rights as a consumer under the California Lemon Law, you may have the right to file a claim or lawsuit against the manufacturing company. An attorney in California can help you with this process.
CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW FAQS
What Qualifies as a Lemon under the California Lemon Law?
Under the California Lemon Law, a vehicle qualifies as a “lemon” if it has a nonconformity that significantly impairs its use, value, or safety. This nonconformity must be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty and reported to the manufacturer or dealer within the warranty period. In summary, a “lemon” in California is a vehicle with a significant and covered defect that was reported within the warranty timeframe, making it eligible for protections under the Lemon Law.
How Do I Know if I Have a Lemon?
In order to find out if you have a lemon, follow these steps:
Assess if your vehicle has a significant issue that significantly affects its use, value, or safety.
Verify if this issue is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Confirm whether you reported this problem to the manufacturer or dealer during the warranty period. If these criteria are met, it’s possible you have a lemon.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a California Lemon Law Attorney?
In California, hiring a lemon law attorney typically won’t cost you anything upfront. The law requires the manufacturer to cover your reasonable attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses. This means you can pursue a lemon law claim without worrying about the financial burden of legal fees. The manufacturer is responsible for covering these expenses.
Call Us Today For a Free Consultation
At Steward Legal, APC, we understand California’s Lemon Law and how to pursue remedies such as financial reimbursement, vehicle buybacks, or replacement vehicles for our clients. If you need to exercise your rights as a consumer under the California Lemon Law, you may have the right to file a claim or lawsuit against the manufacturing company. One of our lemon law attorneys will listen to your story and let you know if we believe you have a lemon. If so, we may offer to represent you during a Lemon Law case. Please call (951) 954-6348 today for more information.
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Office: (951)417-5449
