California lemon law and warranty dispute resources
Status: Official page read; key points summarized. Last checked 2026-10-17.
What the official page says
Source: Arbitration Certification Program (California Department of Consumer Affairs) (read 2026-10-17). This is a summary of that page, not the statute. Exact tests, exclusions and deadlines are on the official page and in the statute, and may have changed.
- The page says the California Lemon Law applies to new vehicles sold or leased in California that are covered under the manufacturer's original vehicle warranty.
- The page says that if the dealer or manufacturer is unable to fix a warranty issue after at least two or more attempts, they must either replace the vehicle or refund its purchase price.
- The page carries a notice about new Lemon Law changes per AB 1755 and SB 26 and a list of manufacturers who opted in; read those pages directly because the rules may differ by manufacturer.
- The page says the Arbitration Certification Program certifies and monitors arbitration programs, and that not all manufacturers have a state-certified arbitration process; mediation through the New Motor Vehicle Board is another option listed.
Numbers the page states
| Item | As stated on the official page |
|---|---|
| Repair attempts | At least two or more attempts (per this page; see page for AB 1755/SB 26 changes) |
Counting rules differ (calendar days vs. business days, what counts as a repair attempt). Use the repair log tool to organize dates, then confirm how your state counts.
Industry arbitration program summary (not a government source)
BBB National Programs, which runs the BBB AUTO LINE dispute program, publishes a state summary: BBB AUTO LINE: California lemon law summary (link checked 2026-10-17). It is published by an industry-linked program, so treat it as a starting point and confirm against the state's own page or statute.
What to do first
- Keep every repair order and receipt. See the records checklist.
- Write down dates and mileage for each repair visit with the repair log tool (nothing is saved or sent).
- Read the federal warranty basics and arbitration pages.
- Consider speaking with a licensed attorney in your state about deadlines. Many have free consultations, but we do not recommend any specific one.