Is Your Car a Lemon?
When Life Gives You Lemons, Get a Lawyer
No matter where you are in California, we can help you get properly compensated for your “lemon.”
Sick and tired of spending time at the shop trying to get your new or used Buick repaired? Have you wasted time and money and the car still has the same problem(s)? California’s Lemon Law covers Buick vehicles, and could be the path to either getting your money back or receiving a new vehicle!
In 1970, California enacted the Lemon Law to provide drivers with relief from persistent problems with their vehicles. What does the Lemon Law do? The simple answer: if you purchased or leased a new or used vehicle in California that is under a warranty and has had an ongoing problem or problems that a dealer has unsuccessfully attempted to fix over multiple repair visits, you may qualify for compensation. The California Lemon Law applies to cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, RVs, motorcycles, some business-owned vehicles, and boats. It applies to purchased or leased new vehicles. It also pertains to used vehicles that are certified pre-owned and/or still under a manufacturer’s warranty.
The manufacturer pays the Gayle Law Group PC when your case is resolved. You are never responsible for any legal fees.
Does My Buick Qualify as a Lemon?
There is no single or easy answer. The Lemon Law requires both a substantial defect and either that the vehicle is not repaired after multiple attempts to get it fixed or it has been at the dealership for many days cumulatively. Substantial defects impair the vehicle’s “use, value, and/or safety.”
- A defect that affects a vehicle’s use is one that prevents you from driving the vehicle as it was intended to be driven.
- A vehicle’s value is diminished when the defect means the vehicle won’t sell for the price it normally would bring – if the defect weren’t there.
- Safety defects are defects that put the driver, passengers, and other drivers in danger.
The problem does not have to be safety related to qualify. If your Buick has been ‘in the shop’ repeatedly and still has the same issue, it may be a lemon. If a defect involves a safety issue, such as faulty airbags, it may only require two repair attempts. If your Buick has been in ‘the shop’ for more than thirty days, cumulative, regardless of the defect(s), it may also qualify as a lemon. Some examples of problems in a Buick vehicle that could be considered substantial are problems involving:
- Brakes
- Engines
- Steering
- Electrical systems
- Suspension
- Air conditioning/heating systems
- Windows
- Transmissions
- Doors
- Back up cameras
- Water leaks
It is important to remember that your Buick does not have to be brand new or have incredibly low mileage to be protected. Even if your Buick has over 50,000 miles on it, if you took it in for repair while it was still under warranty it could still potentially be considered a lemon.
About Buick
Buick is a division of General Motors and is based in Detroit. Buicks have been one of America’s greatest luxury vehicle brands since the first models were built in 1903. Buick currently serves North America as well as China (which is their primary market). As of the 2021 model year, Buick is no longer offering traditional cars, the brand is hedging its bets entirely on crossovers. Their current models are the Encore, Envision, and Enclave though they offer several versions of each.
Common Buick Vehicle Defects
Buick is one of the oldest car makers in the world. That, of course, does not mean they produce vehicles without defects. Every car manufacturer does. Manufacturing mistakes, a problem with a supplier’s product, design issues, a robot off by millimeters, a plant-wide problem, all can make a Buick a lemon. Some of the common defects that people have complained about regarding Buicks include:
- Transmission problems
- Airbag issues
- Fuel tank overflow
- HVAC system issues
- Loud clunking noises from the engines
- Fuel gauge issues
- Insufficient power
- Gasket leaks
- Sputtering
- Stalling
Buicks are known to have good safety ratings and their vehicles have some impressive safety features, but they have still had to issue numerous recalls over the years for safety-related as well as other reasons. Buick’s most recent recall was in November 2020 for a blocked fuel pump nozzle that could stall the Encore. Other recent recalls Buick has issued include:
- Takata airbag inflators that can explode
- Windshield wiper motors that overheat, causing a fire
- Inaccurate fuel gauge readings
- Transmission shift cable adjuster that poses a rollaway risk
- Wiring harness problem that could cause the non-deployment of the side airbags
- Possible reduced break performance
FAQs
The California Lemon Law Buyback for Buick vehicles is a program that allows consumers to receive compensation for a vehicle that is found to be a lemon. The compensation can include a refund of the purchase price, a replacement vehicle, or cash compensation.
Under the California Lemon Law for Buick vehicles, a vehicle is considered a lemon if it has a substantial defect that impairs its use, value, or safety and the defect cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under the California Lemon Law for Buick vehicles, a vehicle may be considered a lemon if it has been taken in for repairs four or more times for the same issue, or if it has been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 days or more. If it is a newer vehicle and has a life-threatening problem, fewer repair attempts may be required.
The deadline for making a Lemon Law Buyback claim on your Buick vehicle in California runs with the lemon law warranties on your vehicle. You may even be able to submit a claim after the warranties expire if you have given the manufacturer attempts to repair your vehicle before the warranties expired.
To pursue a Lemon Law Buyback claim for your Buick vehicle in California, you will need to provide documentation of the repairs made to your vehicle, including repair orders, invoices, and receipts.
Through a Lemon Law Buyback for your Buick vehicle in California, you may be eligible for a refund of the purchase price, a replacement vehicle, or cash compensation.
The Lemon Law Buyback process for your Buick vehicle in California can take several months, depending on the complexity of your case and the cooperation of the manufacturer.
Yes, if you pursue a Lemon Law Buyback claim for your Buick vehicle in California, you will need to return the vehicle to the manufacturer or their authorized representative.
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, GET A LAWYER.
Is your car a lemon?No matter where you are in California, we can help you get properly compensated for your “lemon”.
Always Free RepresentationThe Gayle Law Group PC is paid by the manufacturer when your case is resolved. You are never responsible for any legal fees.
About California Lemon Car Lawyer "Liz" Gayle
Liz Gayle is considered a top California Lemon Car Lawyer. For more than 20 years, she has been helping consumers get their lemon cars in California bought back by manufacturers. Also, as a former counsel to a major auto manufacturer and highly experienced California lemon law attorney, Ms. Gayle has extensive knowledge of California’s Lemon Law.
As a result, Liz Gayle is one of the most sought after Lemon Law Lawyers in California. A client-focused lawyer, Ms. Gayle has successfully handled cases for many clients – both owners of cars and those leasing vehicles.
Additionally, Ms. Gayle works directly with consumers to dispute cases with auto manufacturers and dealerships, concerning vehicles ranging from moderately priced domestic models to very exotic and expensive import autos or recreational vehicles. To learn more about lemon law attorney Liz Gayle, click here
CONTACT
Proven Experience You Can Trust
Other lawyers may ask you to pay a retainer fee or tell you that they work on a contingency fee. Conversely, with Gayle Law Group, PC, the manufacturer pays your legal fees if your case is resolved. And if your case is not resolved, you are NOT responsible for any legal fees. So let California lemon car lawyer Liz Gayle fight for you!
If you have had several repair attempts and are still having issues with your Buick, there is no reason to suffer the stress any longer. Keep documentation of all repairs done – or attempted – to your Buick as well as every call and appointment you made. If you think your Buick may be a lemon, contact the Gayle Law Group, PC today for a FREE consultation. You will be treated with respect and your case will be taken seriously, no matter what the issue.
