Santa Clarita Lemon Law Attorneys

Most LA County Song-Beverly cases for Santa Clarita Valley residents are filed at the Santa Clarita Courthouse on West Valencia Boulevard, the LA Superior Court branch covering the North District. Manufacturers are served through their California agent for service of process. Many cases resolve without an in-person court appearance, and we handle filings, motions, and depositions on your behalf. You typically only need to attend if the case proceeds to trial, which is uncommon in Song-Beverly cases that have well-documented repair histories.

It can be. Manufacturers routinely call recurring CVT shudder "normal characteristic" while issuing technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the same complaint. What the dealer says verbally is less important than what is written on the repair invoice. If the dealer has performed multiple software flashes, replaced the valve body, changed transmission fluid, or replaced the transmission and the shudder returns, that pattern is exactly what Song-Beverly was written for. Bring us your repair history and the relevant TSB; we'll evaluate whether your case fits.

Yes. California's Song-Beverly Act applies to leased vehicles. Lessees have substantially the same lemon law rights as buyers, including the right to a buyback (which on a lease typically means termination of the lease, return of payments made, and refund of incidental costs) or a replacement. The lease contract and the original warranty paperwork tell us which manufacturer is on the hook. Send those over with your repair invoices and we will walk you through the math on a lease buyback versus a cash-and-keep settlement.

Under Civil Code 1793.2(d)(2)(C), when a manufacturer repurchases a defective vehicle, it may deduct a mileage offset reflecting use of the vehicle prior to the first repair attempt for the nonconformity. The statutory formula is (miles at first repair / 120,000) x actual price paid. For a $50,000 vehicle first taken in at 8,000 miles, the offset is roughly $3,333. The manufacturer does not get a deduction for miles driven after the first repair attempt, even if you kept driving while the issue continued. This is why the date of your first repair order matters.

Yes, if there is a manufacturer-backed warranty in place when the defect manifests. Song-Beverly covers vehicles sold with a manufacturer's express written warranty, including original new-vehicle warranties, manufacturer-backed CPO warranties, and most factory extended (manufacturer) warranties. Third-party service contracts sold by dealers or aftermarket companies are treated under different statutes and may not trigger buyback remedies. Bring us the warranty booklet or the extended-coverage contract so we can confirm which path applies.

Most resolve in 3 to 9 months. Manufacturers with established prelitigation programs sometimes offer a buyback within 60 to 90 days of a properly documented demand. Cases involving disputed defects, OTA software histories, or willful-conduct civil-penalty claims tend to take longer because they require expert evaluation and sometimes depositions. We'll give you a realistic timeline at the case-review stage and write to you at each milestone so you know where things stand.

Generally yes, until your case is resolved. Lenders and lessors expect payments under the contract regardless of warranty disputes. The good news is that those continuing payments are part of your damages: under Song-Beverly, a buyback refunds the full price you paid, including financed payments and interest, minus only the statutory mileage offset. Out-of-pocket rental car costs while the vehicle is in the shop are also recoverable as incidental damages. Document them as you go.