Bakersfield Lemon Law

Bakersfield, California, has long been considered a ‘stopping point’ between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Many people, though, find that living and working in Bakersfield is pleasant and affordable, and there are plenty of good-paying jobs available. In fact, it is the strong sense of community in Bakersfield and its thriving agricultural and oil industries that make this one of the state’s vital regions.

There is more to Bakersfield than work, however. There are hundreds of miles of bicycle paths to enjoy, and almost 60 parks. With the Sierra Nevada Mountains a short drive away, exciting outdoor activities are at your doorstep.

Our Bakersfield lemon law attorneys look forward to working with Bakersfield residents on their possible lemon law claims.

Lemon Law Lawyers for Bakersfield Auto Owners

If your purchased or leased vehicle is still covered by the original, factory warranty and you are having regular repair problems, you may want to speak to a lemon law attorney. The California lemon law, also known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, requires all car manufacturers and dealers to repair vehicles if the factory warranty is still effective. According to the lemon law, the manufacturer or dealership must make a certain number of attempts to repair the problem. If they are unsuccessful, you could be entitled to a new vehicle or having the vehicle repurchased.

Unfortunately, not every lemon law claim is smooth sailing in Bakersfield. The car dealer and/or manufacturer may file a rebuttal to your claim. One of the most common issues raised is that the dealer did not have enough opportunity to repair the car. According to the California lemon law, you can have your car repurchased or replaced within the first 18,000 miles or 18 months if the following things are true:

  • The vehicle has had at least two attempts at repair for the same serious, safety-related problem. This problem must be of a nature that could cause serious injury or death; a defective cup holder, obviously, does not qualify, but if the engine stalls at highway speed, this clearly is a safety-related problem.
  • The car has been taken for repair at least four times to fix the same safety related problem.
  • Your car has been at the Bakersfield dealership for at least 30 days since you bought or leased it.

How to Make a Lemon Law Claim

How do you know if you have a lemon? First, have you made enough repair attempts on the vehicle per the above qualifications? Also, is the original factory warranty still in effect? If so, you could have a claim.

A common reason lemon law claims fail is that the consumer does not keep sufficient records of repair attempts. Do not let this happen. Keep good records of every trip you make to the dealership. Keep all invoices, repair orders and receipts. Make sure that the problem is precisely described in the invoice paperwork. Get the names of all service writers who help you. All of this will be to your benefit when it comes time to file a lemon law claim.

You will first need to inform the auto manufacturer, in writing, that you are filing a claim. While you can do this on your own, you may find using a lemon law attorney will make the process easier and more effective. Lemon law attorney fees are paid by the auto manufacturer if the claim is successful, so you are unlikely to have any out-of-pocket costs, and attorneys typically do not take on cases that they believe are unwinnable.

If you win, the car must be replaced or repurchased for its original value, minus mileage. Your chances of prevailing in a lemon law case in California will always be higher with an attorney fighting for you. Dealers and manufacturers do not like to pay lemon law claims and will fight you. Fight back with an experienced lemon law attorney.

Lemon Law Attorneys Serving Bakersfield, California

If you have a vehicle under warranty with repair problems in Bakersfield, you could be entitled to compensation through a lemon law claim. Neale & Fhima is an experienced southern California lemon law firm that has years of experience serving the residents of Bakersfield and surrounding areas. If you require advice about a potential lemon vehicle, please contact us for a complimentary consultation.