You wanted “new car smell.” You got “the service advisor knows me by first name,” instead. If your ride spends more time under fluorescent shop lights than actual sunlight, it’s time to ask the big question: Is my car a lemon?
Here are 7 signs your car might be a lemon—plus the California rules that really matter when it’s time to make a claim.
1) Introducing the ‘Groundhog Day Combo’
If you’re returning to the shop for the same issue again and again—or your car has racked up 30+ cumulative days out of service for warranty repairs (not necessarily consecutive)—that’s classic lemon territory under California law.
2) The defect impairs use, value, or safety
Hard-starts or stalling, braking/steering/transmission glitches, airbag or safety-system faults, high-speed vibration—if it meaningfully affects use, value, or safety, it counts.
3) You had nothing to do with it
No skipped maintenance, no track-day tune, no DIY wiring experiments. If it wasn’t caused by abuse, neglect, or unauthorized mods, you’re in warranty territory. And that means you might have a lemon on your hands.
4) Your car loves “updates” more than improvements
Endless software flashes and module swaps that don’t stick? When “there’s a new update” is the recurring refrain and the symptom returns, you’re likely seeing a persistent defect—not a one-off glitch.
5) Your dash is a light show
Check engine, ABS, airbag/SRS, hybrid/EV, ADAS/camera/radar warnings that keep coming back after “repair” strongly suggest the root cause was missed.
6) The “fix” keeps migrating
One visit it’s a reflash, next it’s a sensor, then a module, then a harness, then “no problem found.” That frustrating whack-a-mole pattern is evidence of an unresolved underlying defect.
7) Your paperwork tells a story
Stacked repair orders, a clean timeline of in/out dates and mileage, rental and/or tow receipts, and warranty proof are the backbone of a winning claim. If your file shows repeated attempts or 30+ days down, you’re not just frustrated—you’re well-documented.
Quick California Checklist (Getting to the Legal Heart of It)
You might have a California lemon if:
- The defect arose under the manufacturer’s original warranty.
- It wasn’t fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts or the car was out of service 30+ days.
- The issue impairs use, value, or safety.
- It wasn’t caused by abuse/neglect/unauthorized mods.
- The vehicle was purchased/leased in CA (with an exception for active-duty military stationed in CA).
Deadlines do apply, so ask a lawyer to calculate your filing window.
What to do next (and why it matters):
- Save every repair order (even “could not duplicate”).
- Build a one-page timeline (dates in/out, mileage, total days down).
- Collect receipts (tows, rentals, rideshare tied to the defect).
- Confirm factory warranty status (warranty booklet/in-service date).
- Talk to a California Lemon Law attorney. In successful cases, the manufacturer pays consumers’ reasonable attorneys’ fees. This means you can get help without out-of-pocket legal costs.
Why Choose The Lemon Lawyer?
Recognizing the “signs” your car might be a lemon is only part of the puzzle. Seeking legal counsel that can deliver actual results is where we come in.
With thousands of successful resolutions and a personal, no-middleman approach, we offer goal-driven outcomes like buyback, replacement, or cash compensation.
If you’re seeing the signs listed above, your car may very well be a lemon—but you don’t have to keep squeezing. Get a free case review and move on with confidence.