RV Motor Homes Lemon Law Firm California
RECREATIONAL
VEHICLES LEMON ATTORNEYS
RVs, Motor Homes, and the California Lemon Law
Recreational Vehicles and motor homes represent a wide variety of motorized vehicles and ‘towables.’ Motorized RVs refer to Class A, Class B, and Class C vehicles. Towables include fifth-wheel trailers, toy haulers, travel trailers and pop-up campers.
No matter what type of RV or motor home or trailer you have, they are major investments. Owners rely on them when they travel. Sometimes far off the beaten path.
A lot of things can go wrong. Families stranded in the wilderness, stuck in the desert, suddenly without water or plumbing, exposed to the elements, or, at the very least, forced to cancel vacations. It’s infuriating when your investment is in the repair shop more than it is on vacation.
Thankfully, there are remedies available to RV, motorhome, and towable owners.
RVs and motorhomes are covered under the California Lemon Law . . . but it’s a bit complicated. Towables are covered as consumer goods and have the same protections as other consumer goods sold with a manufacturer’s warranty.
The team at Gayle Law Group PC has years of experience handling RV cases. We’ve seen it all. We understand the intricacies of the California Lemon Law. We know how the RV manufacturers react to lemon law cases.
What Makes My RV/Motorhome/Towable a Lemon?
The chassis of a Class A, Class B, and Class C motorized RV falls under the Lemon Law just as cars and trucks do. The coach is covered like other consumer goods. Here’s what that means for your RV: The chassis – engine, drive train, everything that makes the RV mobile – is a ‘lemon’ if it has a substantial defect that impairs its “use, value, or safety” and multiple attempts to fix it have failed. Few attempts suffice when the defect is a serious safety issue: anything that puts the driver and passengers in danger. The RV may also be a lemon if it has been in the shop for an excessive number of days – even if the repairs were for different issues. In fact, in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles (whichever comes first) if the defect has not been resolved despite your best efforts after 4 or more times (or 2 times for a life threatening problem) or there have been a series of problems that have put the truck in the shop for at least 30 days, the truck is presumed to be a lemon. In that case, it’s up to the manufacturers to prove it’s not. The coach and towables – Simply, if you bought the RV or towable new, it’s under warranty, doesn’t perform like it is supposed to due to defects, you’ve tried to have it repaired and have been unsuccessful, the RV can qualify as a lemon.
Electrical and plumbing issues, tank leaks, hookups that consistently fail, slide-outs that won’t work, heating and air conditioning failures are all covered.
If your RV is a lemon because of the chassis remedies may include:
- A complete purchase refund (including the down payment and financing costs) AND having the full balance of your loan paid off in full.
- OR a replacement vehicle.
The RV owner decides which settlement works best for their situation. In addition, regardless of the solution, the manufacturer is responsible for attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses. The consumer pays nothing. The same remedies apply to the coach and towables with one notable exception, the manufactures decide which option will be used to make you whole.
DOCUMENTATION
What to Do
The process starts with you, the owner. Nothing happens without documentation. You are the only person who can get it.
Document everything .
Put together every invoice, receipt, service slip. When you finish a phone call to the dealer or manufacturer, immediately write down the time date, who you talked to, their title, and the gist of the conversation.
While you are doing this, call us at Gayle Law Group PC.
Where RVs and lemon law are concerned it can get very complicated very quickly.
What not to do? Don’t listen to dealers, salespeople, managers, or manufacturer reps when they – and they will – explain any aspect of the Lemon Law. They’re not lawyers. They are, in fact, potential defendants.
FAQs
Yes, all types of RVs, including motorhomes and towables such as travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers, are covered under the California Lemon Law as long as they meet the criteria for being considered a “lemon”. The same laws that apply to cars apply to the chassis of the RV. The same laws that apply to other consumer goods apply to the coach.
An RV is considered a “lemon” under California law if it has a substantial defect that impairs its use, value, or safety and the manufacturer has made multiple attempts to fix the issue. It can also be considered a lemon if it has been in the shop for an excessive number of days, regardless of the number of issues being fixed.
RV Lemon Law covers issues relating to the engine, drivetrain, and mobility aspects of the vehicle for motorized RVs. For towables, any issue related to the performance of the RV due to defects that impairs its use, value, or safety is covered. This includes issues such as electrical and plumbing problems, tank leaks, slide-outs not functioning, and heating and air conditioning failure.
If your RV is a lemon, you may be entitled to a refund of the purchase price, a replacement RV, or a cash settlement. The manufacturer is responsible for attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses associated with the lemon law claim. It is important to document all issues and repair attempts and speak with a qualified RV Lemon Law attorney.
No, you should not have to pay anything for hiring an RV Lemon Law attorney. The manufacturer is responsible for covering attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses in lemon law claims.
If you believe your RV might be a lemon, it is crucial to document all issues and repair attempts. Contact an RV Lemon Law attorney as soon as possible to evaluate your case and explore your options.
If you suspect your RV is a lemon, document the defects and repair attempts, retain all relevant records and communication, and consult with an experienced RV Lemon Law attorney who can evaluate your case and guide you through the process.
In California, the timeframe to file an RV Lemon Law claim is generally within the warranty period or within four years from the date of delivery, whichever occurs first.
Under the California Lemon Law, manufacturers and dealers are prohibited from retaliating against consumers who file RV Lemon Law claims. If you experience any form of retaliation, inform your attorney, who can take appropriate legal action.
While it is possible to file an RV Lemon Law claim without an attorney, having legal representation can greatly enhance your chances of success. An experienced RV Lemon Law attorney can provide valuable expertise, negotiate on your behalf, and advocate for your rights.
To strengthen your RV Lemon Law claim, gather and retain documents such as repair records, service invoices, warranty information, photographs, correspondence with the manufacturer or dealer, and any other evidence that supports your case.
Contact
The Gayle Law Group has represented many Los Angeles residents over the years. We've represented purchasers and lessees of cars, electric and hybrid vehicles, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, RVs, and more in Los Angeles. We will help you as well.
