How to know if my car is a lemon?

Have you recently purchased an Audi that has had a lot of problems?  Is the Audi dealer giving you the run around?  You are probably asking yourself, “how do I know if my car is a lemon?”  Alpha Law Firm can help you answer this question.  Our attorneys help drivers in Southern California communities like Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Orange County, San Diego, Ventura, and Calabasas get out of their lemon and back on the road.

Consumers have Lemon Law protection under both State and Federal law. California passed the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act in 1970, giving car buyers new protection from unscrupulous dealers. The Federal Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act was passed in 1975, expanding consumer protection at the national level. Together, these laws are commonly referred to simply as “Lemon Law.” 

Under California Lemon Law, an auto manufacturer is required to purchase or replace your vehicle if it is:

  1. under warranty; and
  2. the manufacturer has failed to fix your car after a reasonable number of attempts; and 
  3. issues began and you tried to get them fixed within 18 months or 18,000 miles of getting the car.

Even if you bought a used car, you may still qualify for protection under the Lemon Law if the vehicle is still under the original manufacturer’s warranty. 

Signs my Audi is a Lemon

According to a study of lemon car owners, 2/3 of cars that were lemons started showing problems within one month of purchase.  The most common symptoms of a lemon in that study were problems with:

  • brakes
  • starter
  • suspension system
  • engine
  • radiator
  • transmission
  • battery 
  • carburetor
  • and heating/cooling system

The study also mentioned that airbags were sometimes the issue that made a vehicle a lemon. That is a scary thought, since airbag problems wouldn’t always be easy to discover until was too late.  If you are in Southern California and your Audi is showing signs that it is a Lemon, contact Alpha law to help you through the process. 

What is a reasonable number of attempts to repair my car?

The key question to know if your car is a Lemon is often whether the manufacturer has made a reasonable number of attempts to repair your car.  According to the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, manufacturers have at least two attempts to repair a vehicle before they must replace or repurchase it.  Different factors and circumstances all impact what is considered a reasonable number of repair attempts.  

If a car buyer can establish certain criteria are met in court, the burden may shift to the auto manufacturer to prove the car isn’t a lemon. This is very helpful to the car buyer since it makes it much easier to win. A Southern California court can presume a car is a lemon if any of the following additional facts apply:

  1. The car has been in for repairs four times and is still not fixed;
  2. The car has been in for repairs twice for a serious issue that can cause serious injury or death and it is not fixed;
  3. The car has been in for repairs for a total of 30 days for a problem covered under warranty.

Contact Alpha Law to find out if your Audi is a Lemon

The Alpha Law team is here to help you navigate the complex Lemon Law system.  Don’t let Audi push you around. Our Attorneys may be able to help you get a replacement vehicle or have the manufacturer buy your car back.  Whether you are in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Orange County, San Diego, Ventura, or Calabasas, contact us today for your free consultation.  You can call us at (323)51-LEMON (53666) or fill out our intake form.

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