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 Chevrolet repaired? Have you wasted time and money, and the car still has the same problem(s)? California’s Lemon Law covers Chevrolet 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 relieve drivers from persistent vehicle problems. What does the Lemon Law do? The simple answer: if you purchased or leased a new or used vehicle in California that is under 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 Chevrolet 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 cumulatively at the dealership for many days. Substantial defects impair the vehicle’s “use, value, and/or safety.”
- A defect that affects a vehicle’s use 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 usually would bring – if the defect weren’t there.
- Safety defects put the driver, passengers, and other drivers in danger.
The problem does not have to be safety-related to qualify. If your Chevrolet has repeatedly been ‘in the shop’ 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. However, if your Chevrolet has been in ‘the shop’ for more than thirty days, cumulative, regardless of the defect(s), it may qualify as a lemon. Some examples of problems in a Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet does not have to be brand new or have incredibly low mileage to be protected. Even if your Chevrolet has over 50,000 miles on it, if you took it in for repair while it was still under warranty, it could be considered a lemon.
About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is a division of General Motors. Chevrolet has been one of America’s sturdiest, most popular car brands for over one hundred years. Chevrolet is a global automotive brand that employs over 20,000 people and currently produces about 18 models. The most popular models include the Silverado, the Equinox, the Malibu, the Cruze, and the Traverse. They are owned by General Motors, the fourth largest car manufacturer in the world, behind Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai/Kia.
Common Chevrolet Vehicle Defects
Chevrolet 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, or a plant-wide problem, can all make a Chevrolet a lemon. Some of the common defects that people have complained about concerning their Chevy cars include:
- Engine oil leaks
- Airbag issues
- Diesel leaks
- Loud clunking noises from the engines
- Sputtering
- Stalling
- The vibration of the engine
- Navigation failures
- Shifting hesitation
- Loss of power
- Transmission failures
Chevy vehicles are known to have high safety ratings, and they have the awards to prove it, but they have still had to issue numerous recalls over the years for safety-related and other reasons. The most recent Chevy recall is for the Silverado: The trucks could have their roof-rail airbag inflator end cap detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture. That would prevent the airbags from working properly and, in some instances, could send shrapnel into the passenger cabin Some of the recent recalls Chevrolet has had to issue for some of their vehicles include:
- A potential software glitch that could disable vehicle brake systems
- Faulty ignition switch
- Takata airbag inflators can explode
- Loose bolts could cause a rollaway risk
- Potential sudden loss of power steering at any time
- A defective fuel sensor could cause leaks that could cause a fire
- Incorrect glass installation (could explode in an impact)
FAQs
The California Lemon Law Buyback for Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet vehicle in California runs with the 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 Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet 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”.
Pay ZERO Fees. 100% Free Representation.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
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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 Chevrolet, there is no reason to suffer the stress any longer. Keep documentation of all repairs done – or attempted – to your Chevrolet as well as every call and appointment you made. If you think your Chevrolet 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.
