You do not need to decide whether your car is legally a lemon before asking for a review. Start with what happened and the records you have.
Start with the sale and warranty
The purchase or lease paperwork tells us how the vehicle was sold, when it was delivered, and which warranties came with it. Include the warranty booklet and any separately purchased service contract so we can see what each covers. A service contract and a manufacturer warranty can give you different rights.
For a qualifying new motor vehicle, California law may require a replacement or restitution, often called a buyback. The warranty problem must substantially impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety and remain unresolved after a reasonable opportunity to repair. We need to review your circumstances; a warning light alone does not establish a claim.
Describe the problem in ordinary words
Tell us what you experienced, when it began, and what changed after each service visit. For an intermittent problem, note the conditions: speed, temperature, charging state, road conditions, or how long you had been driving. Explain how the issue affected your use of the vehicle without guessing at a mechanical diagnosis.
- Delivery date and mileage at purchase or lease.
- Date and mileage when the concern first appeared.
- Each repair visit, the work performed, and whether the concern returned.
- Days you could not use the vehicle and any towing or rental expenses.
What if you bought the car used?
Do not assume that remaining factory warranty coverage makes every used vehicle eligible for the new-motor-vehicle buyback remedy. How the vehicle was sold and what warranty was issued with the sale matter. Other warranty or consumer claims may require a different analysis.
Tell us if the vehicle was used, certified pre-owned, a demonstrator, purchased for a business, or purchased outside California. Those details help us work out which protections may apply to you.
You can ask before your file is complete
An initial review can start with your contact information, vehicle details, and a short description. Keep originals, gather missing repair orders, and tell the firm about any upcoming deadline or offer. A website guide cannot determine your eligibility or preserve a filing deadline.