The quick answer
Your car may be a lemon if it has a defect — covered by the manufacturer's warranty — that substantially affects its use, value, or safety, and the dealer hasn't fixed it after a reasonable number of repair attempts. If that sounds like your situation, you could be owed a refund, a replacement, or a cash settlement at no cost to you.
The repair-attempt rule
California presumes a vehicle is a lemon when, under warranty, any of these is true:
You can still qualify even if you don't hit these exact numbers — they're a guideline. A free review is the only way to know for sure.
7 signs you might have a lemon
You've returned for the identical issue more than once and it still isn't fixed.
Two, three, or more trips to the dealer for the same defect.
Your vehicle has spent many days — or 30+ cumulative days — waiting on warranty repairs.
Brakes, steering, airbags, stalling, or anything that puts you at risk.
They keep saying they “can't reproduce” the problem — but you live with it.
The defect first appeared while the manufacturer's warranty was in effect.
The problem substantially affects how you use, value, or trust the vehicle.
What to document (this is critical)
Lemon law cases are won with paperwork. Starting today:
- Get a written repair order every single visit — even when they say nothing's wrong. It proves you reported the problem.
- Record the date and mileage for each visit and how long the car was in the shop.
- Describe the symptom the same way each time so it reads as one recurring defect.
- Keep all communications — texts, emails, and service notes from the dealer.
Always leave with a copy of the repair order in hand. A “no problem found” order still counts as a documented repair attempt.
Your quick lemon checklist
Tick the boxes that apply to you:
Checked three or more? You may have a strong case — let's confirm it for free.
What to do next
You don't have to figure this out alone, and finding out costs nothing. Run your details through our free quiz for an instant case-strength score, or look up your exact vehicle's recalls and reported defects.
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This guide is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney should review your specific situation.