Lemon law – California 2000

Opinion "California lemon law reflects reality, so live with it"

At first blush, California's new lemon law seems draconian and onerous. But it really isn't so bad.

The new law [shepherded through the legislature by CARS] allows consumers to take legal action to replace a vehicle after only two failed attempts to repair a safety-related defect, instead of the old threshold of four failed repair attempts.

The California law likely will encourage other states to enact similar provisions. Customers don't care whether the problem was designed in, engineered in, built in or simply missed in a pre-delivery inspection. They just want it fixed–the first time.

Factory and dealer must work together to increase the supply of skilled service technicians, which is a problem that haunts many dealers. The world has changed. Get used to it, get over it and get on with it. Cheerful compliance will help the entire industry."

– Automotive News, October 9, 2000 (The leading auto industry trade publication)

 

"Tougher 'Lemon' Law to Offer More Protection"

'Californians stuck with unsafe vehicles plagued by serious defects will enjoy greater protection under a toughened auto 'lemon' law passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gray Davis.

Under Senate Bill 1718, which will take effect Jan. 1, manufacturers will have just two chances to fix a life-threatening defect on a vehicle. After a second unsuccessful repair attempt–including failed attempts to diagnose the problem–the vehicle will be officially declared a lemon.

Once declared, the vehicle will be branded forever, and the auto maker required to replace it or refund the owner's money. Current law allows four repair attempts before a vehicle is branded a lemon.

"This new law will help save lives and prevent injuries' caused by accidents involving defective vehicles," says Rosemary Shahan, president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety in Sacramento [sponsors of SB 1718]. 'The 2.8 million Californians who buy new cars each year will now enjoy greater protection.'

SB 1718 extends coverage, for the first time, to small-business owners with fleets of as many as five vehicles that weigh less than 10,000 pounds each, says Rachel Chavez, Consumer Affairs' chief of arbitration certification."

– Los Angeles Times, October 11, 2000