May
13
2008
July 2007: the CA Legislature is approved. The Governor signed a bill for the protection of the California Lemon Law to the Armed Forces members regardless of where they bought their lemon car or truck. California is the state that has extended its lemon law to military personnel who bought their vehicle outside of the state in which they are stationed.
The military personnel stuck with a lemon vehicle were not able to go to their home state where they bought their vehicle for hiring an attorney and prosecute a lemon law case. State Senator Ellen Corbett carried the bill that will be effective on January 1, 2008. Rosemary Shahan, from non-profit advocate group, CARS, sponsored that bill.
May
13
2008
Is your new dream car spending more time at the dealer’s repair shop than it spends with you? Does you car emit smoke in a rainbow of colors, drip multiple fluids, or make wheezing noises while stopped at an intersection? Do the neighbours complain that they hear your new car coming long before they see it? If you’ve detected a faint whiff of citrus when approaching your garage, then you could have a lemon on your hands. But wait! Hold the sugar and ice cubes: In California, you won’t be forced to make lemonade.
What, Exactly, Is a Lemon?
In California, a problem car’s owner can be entitled to a comparable car replacement, or a refund of the purchase price (prorated based on the miles driven). In order to qualify as a lemon:
The car must still be under warranty. The owner may have taken the car for repair of the similar problem four or more times through an authorized dealer. The car must have been inoperable for 30 days (not consecutive)
The vehicle problem or defect must also impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. To qualify, cars must be either purchased or leased in California for personal, family, or business use.