Source: RefundYourLemon.com
Getting a used Audi or any other luxury car is like getting a 5-star hotel experience for the cost of a 3-star hotel.
That is, until the check-engine light begins to flicker and the service department team knows you by name. You may wonder whether the lemon law in California covers used cars. It does, and before you say your Audi is not working and is useless, you might want to call a California Audi lemon law lawyer to get some advice on how to proceed.
Used Not Useless: When California Lemon Law Applies
California’s lemon law can be found under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, which provides protective coverage for the consumer, but it’s not for all used cars. For a used car to be entitled to the Song-Beverly Act, it needs to be sold with a warranty. Some warranties can be limited and small, such as those from a dealership or the manufacturer of the car. Whether used or not, the vehicle must have a warranty for the consumer to benefit from the California lemon law.
If the vehicle doesn’t have a warranty, it’s not eligible for the lemon law protection. That’s why you should read your warranty to see if it covers you and your needs in the unfortunate event that the used car you purchased gives you problems. If the dealership or manufacturer cannot fix it after too many tries, you may need to contact an attorney for a legal remedy.
The Luxury Car Catch: When High-End Means High Stakes
Audi cars are celebrated for their performance, craftsmanship, and technology. Unfortunately, that delicate balance can be thrown off by even the smallest thing, and the tech that sets your Audi apart can be what makes your car inoperable. Whether the digital cockpit crashes, the adaptive cruise control malfunctions, or the transmission doesn’t grip the road during a merge, it’s not just stressful; it’s dangerous. In a car such as an Audi, this makes driving the car unpredictable and can potentially make driving in it lethal.
It’s also not cheap. High-end German cars are among the most expensive to repair. Because of the high price of parts and labor, many owners of premium and luxury cars are likely to seek a California-used Audi lemon law lawyer to help build their claim. Audi lemon law attorneys pull hard-to-find data about how dealers are making the repairs on your car so you can get the most out of your claims.
Not All Warranties Are Equal
If you bought a CPO Audi A6 that came with an extended warranty for the powertrain, electronics, and more, you may think you’re in the clear. When you buy your car, you get the balance of a manufacturer-backed extended warranty that gives you peace of mind if something goes wrong with the powertrain, electronics, and more. Several weeks after you drive the car off the lot, it stalls every time you come to a stop at a red light.
The dealership makes repair after repair, but it keeps happening. The safety features stop running when the battery is removed from the car, which is another run-around that causes a lot of car owners with the same problem to give up on their car too early. In this situation, you’re dealing with more than a mechanical headache. You’re dealing with inconvenience, time wasted, and possible safety concerns.
You will need some legal protection in place because that manufacturer-based warranty means you’re covered under the lemon law. If you bought from a corner lot with a mysterious 30-day powertrain policy and no previous repair history, your legal options may be more limited. Be sure to carefully review the terms of coverage before assuming the lemon law works for you.
What Counts as a Reasonable Number of Repairs?
This is one of the gray areas in the lemon law. In general, California assumes your car is a lemon if:
- Two or more attempts fail to fix the safety-related problem
- Four or more tries are needed to remedy the problem for less serious issues
- The vehicle is out of service for 30 days or more in total over the lifetime of the warranty, not necessarily consecutively.
However, there are exceptions, and one of those exceptions may be your car. Keep the specifics in mind, and have detailed records of repair attempts, repair orders, and attempted communications with the seller.
A recent article in the U.S. News noted that the lemon law in California is solid, but lawmakers are looking to amend the changes to satisfy everyone. That way, consumers are not ripped off and manufacturers don’t have to pay for problems they did not cause.
Get the Right Help Early
If you’re stuck in that groove of repairs and questionable results and want answers, don’t compound your frustration by waiting it out. A California used car lemon law attorney can explain your legal rights, assess your options, and get the process of justice moving by fighting for a replacement car, a refund, or a cash settlement.
After all, when you pay for luxury, you deserve more than a car that works part-time. When things go wrong and infringe on your safety, you deserve justice as quickly as possible.
