Lemon-law claims generally come down to the same things: repair attempts, days out of service, and whether you're still inside the eligibility window. Organize those facts and get a free letter outline; the full demand letter is in the $39 Case Pack.
| Eligibility window | 18 months from delivery to the buyer or 18,000 miles on the odometer, whichever occurs first, for the Tanner presumption. Serious safety defects require only 2 repair attempts within this window. |
|---|---|
| Repair-attempt presumption | 4 repair attempts |
| Days-out-of-service presumption | 30 days |
| Citation | Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.2, § 1793.22 (Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act / Tanner Consumer Protection Act) |
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act requires a manufacturer that cannot repair a new motor vehicle to conform to its express warranty, after a reasonable number of attempts, to either replace the vehicle or reimburse the buyer. The Tanner Consumer Protection Act creates a rebuttable presumption that a reasonable number of attempts have occurred if, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles (whichever is first): the same nonconformity was subject to repair 4 or more times, or 2 or more times if it is likely to cause death or serious injury; or the vehicle was out of service for repairs for a cumulative total of more than 30 calendar days. Song-Beverly is a broader consumer-goods warranty statute; its vehicle-specific provisions are what practitioners call the California lemon law. Unlike most states, California's law extends some protection to used vehicles still under the manufacturer's original express warranty.
Wherewithal is an organizational tool only. Not legal advice. Consider consulting a licensed attorney.