If you purchased a General Motors vehicle in Los Angeles, CA, that keeps returning to the dealership for the same unresolved problems, California’s lemon law may require GM to offer you a financial remedy. My Lemon Firm can help you hold the manufacturer legally responsible and pursue all of the compensation you deserve.
Our Los Angeles lemon law attorneys have years of experience taking on major automakers and a history of winning outcomes that you can trust. We know how General Motors handles these claims internally and will use that knowledge to fight for your rights throughout the entire legal process, including in court if needed.
Contact us today at (310) 507-9651 for a free consultation. We can review your repair history and help you understand your legal options at no cost to you.
Meet Our Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney Brian Murray
Lead Attorney in Santa Monica, CA
Brian Murray is a Los Angeles based Lemon Law attorney with extensive experience helping California consumers with defective vehicle claims.
He has served as trial counsel for many major Lemon Law firms in California and has won six-figure verdicts in both State and Federal courts.
Brian also spent ten years as Managing Attorney at California Consumer Attorneys, P.C., litigating hundreds of Lemon Law cases and trying dozens of jury trials.
He graduated cum laude from Elon University and later earned his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law, along with a Master’s Degree in Dispute Resolution.
How My Lemon Firm Can Help With Your GM Lemon Law Claim in Los Angeles, California
General Motors is one of the largest automakers in the country with the resources to match. Between 2018 and 2021, GM vehicles accounted for nearly 29 percent of all lemon law cases filed in California. Despite that volume, GM does not make the buyback process easy for consumers. Having experienced legal representation on your side can make all the difference in how your case ultimately plays out.
When you hire our Los Angeles GM lemon law attorneys with My Lemon Firm, we can:
- Evaluate your vehicle’s repair records and warranty coverage to determine if you have a valid claim
- Handle all communications and negotiations with General Motors
- Send the required pre-suit written notice on your behalf under AB 1755
- Gather supporting evidence, including dealer work orders and service documentation
- Represent you through mandatory mediation and, if necessary, file a lawsuit on your behalf
- Fight for a full buyback, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement
Contact our legal team today to get started with a free consultation. We’re confident we can help you secure the resolution you’re looking for.
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California’s Lemon Law and What It Means for GM Owners
California’s lemon law falls under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790-1795.8). It requires manufacturers to repurchase or replace a vehicle when a substantial defect covered by the warranty cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. The choice between a refund and a replacement belongs to you as the consumer.
The Tanner Consumer Protection Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22) adds a legal presumption that your vehicle qualifies as a lemon if, within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, any of the following apply:
- The same non-safety defect has been subject to four or more repair attempts
- A defect that could cause death or serious injury has been subject to two or more repair attempts
- The vehicle has been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days due to warranty repairs
Once this presumption applies, the burden shifts to the manufacturer to prove the vehicle is not a lemon.
Common Los Angeles General Motors Defects
GM vehicles across all four of its brands have been the subject of recurring lemon law claims in California. Some of the most frequently reported issues include:
- Transmission shudder and harsh shifting in vehicles equipped with 8L90 and 8L45 8-speed automatic transmissions, affecting models like the Silverado, Sierra, Camaro, and Corvette
- Lifter failures in the 5.3L and 6.2L V8 engines caused by GM’s Active Fuel Management and Dynamic Fuel Management systems
- Electrical malfunctions, including instrument panels going blank while driving
- Brake system software failures that do not display warning lights for low brake fluid
- Infotainment system glitches, including unresponsive touchscreens and software freezes
- Air suspension failures in Cadillac Escalade models
If your GM vehicle has experienced any of these problems and authorized repair visits have not resolved the issue, your vehicle may qualify as a lemon under California law.
Does My Los Angeles GM Vehicle Qualify as a Lemon?
For your vehicle to qualify under the Song-Beverly Act, the following conditions generally need to be met:
- The vehicle must have been covered by an active manufacturer’s warranty when the defect was first reported
- The defect must substantially impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety
- The manufacturer or its authorized dealer must have been given a reasonable number of opportunities to repair the problem
- The defect cannot have been caused by owner misuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications
New vehicles, leased vehicles, and certified pre-owned vehicles sold with a manufacturer-issued warranty are all covered. Following the California Supreme Court’s November 2024 decision in Rodriguez v. FCA US LLC, used vehicles with only a remaining balance of an original warranty generally no longer qualify for a Song-Beverly buyback, though federal Magnuson-Moss claims may still be available.
What Kinds of Compensation Can I Recover Through a Lemon Law Claim in Los Angeles?
If your GM vehicle qualifies as a lemon, the manufacturer must either repurchase or replace it. In a buyback, the refund typically covers:
- The full purchase price of the vehicle
- All monthly loan or lease payments made
- Sales tax, registration fees, and title costs
- Finance charges and interest
- Incidental expenses such as towing and rental car costs
Note that the manufacturer may apply a mileage offset based on the miles driven before the first repair attempt. Further, per Civil Code § 1794(c), if the manufacturer’s violation of the lemon law was willful, you may also be entitled to a civil penalty of up to two times your actual damages.
What Does It Cost To Hire a GM Lemon Law Attorney in Los Angeles?
Nothing out of pocket. Per state law, the manufacturer is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail. Our firm handles GM lemon law cases on a contingency fee basis as well, which means we only receive payment for our work in terms of attorney’s fees if we successfully handle your case.
How Long Do I Have To File a Los Angeles GM Lemon Law Claim?
General Motors has opted into California’s AB 1755 fast-track program, which means GM claims now follow tighter deadlines than the traditional four-year window. Two overlapping time limits apply:
- You must file within one year after your vehicle’s express warranty expires
- No claim may be filed more than six years from the date the vehicle was originally delivered
Whichever deadline arrives first controls your case. You are also required to provide GM with a written pre-suit notice at least 30 days before filing a lawsuit seeking civil penalties. In addition, mandatory mediation must also occur within 150 days after GM files its response to your lawsuit.
Contact Our Los Angeles General Motors Lemon Law Attorneys for Legal Help
If your Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, or Cadillac has spent more time at the dealership than on the road in Los Angeles, you should not have to keep absorbing the cost of a vehicle that does not work. California’s lemon law was built to protect you in this exact situation.
Contact My Lemon Firm today for a free consultation at (310) 507-9651. We’ll do everything in our power to help you stand up to GM and make things right.