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 GM repaired? Have you wasted time and money and the car still has the same problem(s)? California’s Lemon Law covers GM 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 GM 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 GM 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 GM 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 GM 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 GM does not have to be brand new or have incredibly low mileage to be protected. Even if your GM 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 GM
GM was founded by William C. Durant on September 16, 1908. From 1931 through 2007 GM had a market share of 50% of the cars sold in the U.S. General Motors is ranked number 18 on the Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.
Common GM Vehicle Defects
GM 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 GM a lemon. Some of the common defects that people have complained about regarding GMs include:
- Transmission problems
- Airbag issues
- Fuel tank overflow
- HVAC system issues
- Fuel pump issues
- Speedometer not working correctly
- Loud clunking noises from the engines
- Sputtering
- Stalling
GMs 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. GM’s most recent recall was for faulty airbag warning lights. Other recent recalls GM has issued include:
- Potential software glitch that could disable vehicle brake systems
- Battery cable rings with excessive glue could cause fires
- Seat belt pretensioners could emit a hot gas that could cause fires
- Electronic stability control malfunction
- Incorrect glass installation (could explode in an impact)
- Power steering assist system faulty
FAQs
The California Lemon Law Buyback for General Motors 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 General Motors 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 General Motors 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 General Motors 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 General Motors vehicle in California, you may be eligible for a refund of the purchase price, a replacement vehicle, or cash compensation.
Yes, you may still pursue a Lemon Law Buyback claim for your General Motors vehicle in California even if the warranty has expired, as long as the issue occurred while the vehicle was still under warranty and you took it into a dealership for repair.
The Lemon Law Buyback process for your General Motors 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 General Motors 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 GM, there is no reason to suffer the stress any longer. Keep documentation of all repairs done – or attempted – to your GM as well as every call and appointment you made. If you think your GM 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.
