Consumption and Real Estate
California Used Car lemon law?
Question : California Used Car lemon law?
I am in the military and just moved to California so I am not sure of my rights here but I bought a USED car, I really like the car, but I bought this car, made it home, the next morning it wouldn’t start. On the 5th try starting the car the engine light came on and has been on since. I brought it to AAMCO because they do a free “Engine Light Diagnostic” and more than a dozen codes came up. What should I do? The car dealer gave me a warranty but its a powertrain warranty.
its a 2001 vw cabrio 83000 miles
I use the term Lemon Law because in NY we have a Used Car Lemon Law and because a Lemon is what I got. Is there any recourse for any period of time?
california home warranty
Best answer:
Answer by Scott H
You didn’t say what year the car is, but generally used cars are sold in “as is” condition. The dealer gave you a limited warranty that covers the powertrain. It’s probably not going to be much help to you in this case.
Lemon laws protect the buyers of NEW cars from serious, recurring defects (warranty-type stuff). There are specific time and mileage requirements that must be met. They are not, nor were they ever intended to cover everything that can possibly go wrong with a vehicle.
There are risks associated with buying a used car, it is the buyer’s responsibility to determine the condition of a used vehicle before buying it. After the deal is done, you have no recourse.
Sorry for not being able to give you better news, and thank you for your service. I am a Marine Corps veteran myself.
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#2 written by usedcarwise 1 year ago
In 2006 California passed a somwhat limited used car protection “Bill Of Rights”. I’m not extremely familar with all the terms but you should have been offered the otion to purchase the protection. If not you may have some recourse due to the fact it wasn’t offered.
According to the California’s Dept Of Motor Vehicles the details are as follows.
Used car buyers may purchase a two-day sales contract cancellation option.
There is no “cooling off” period unless you obtain a contract cancellation option. . Consumers who purchase a used car for less than $ 40,000 must be given an opportunity to purchase a two-day Contract Cancellation Option Agreement.
Important: The contract cancellation option does not apply to used cars priced at $ 40,000 or more, new cars, private party sales, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, recreational vehicles, or vehicles sold for business or commercial use.
Cancellation option specifics
The following indicates how much you can expect to pay if you choose to purchase the contract cancellation option:$ 75 for a vehicle costing $ 5,000 or less;
$ 150 for a vehicle costing more than $ 5,000, but not more than $ 10,000;
$ 250 for a vehicle costing more than $ 10,000, but not more than $ 30,000; or
One percent of the purchase price for a vehicle costing more than $ 30,000, but not more than $ 39,999.99
If you choose to return the vehicle, within the time specified, the dealer can charge a maximum restocking fee of:$ 175 for a vehicle costing $ 5,000 or less;
$ 350 for a vehicle costing more than $ 5,000, but less than $ 10,000; or
$ 500 for a vehicle costing $ 10,000 but less than $ 40,000.More details at their web site below.
First though you should contact the dealer you purchased from and see what they are willing to do.
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#3 written by mccoyblues 1 year ago
You need to understand Lemon Laws. First they don’t apply to used cars.
The Lemon Laws were created to protect new car buyers from repeated problems with car repairs.
The “Lemon Law,” helps determine what is a reasonable number of repair attempts for problems that substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. The “Lemon Law” applies to these problems if they arise during the first 18 months after the consumer received delivery of the vehicle or within the first 18,000 miles on the odometer, whichever occurs first. During the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the “Lemon Law” presumes that a manufacturer has had a reasonable number of attempts to repair the vehicle if either (1) The same problem results in a condition that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven and the problem has been subject to repair two or more times by the manufacturer or its agents, and the buyer or lessee has at least once directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the problem as provided in the warranty or owner’s manual or (2) The same problem has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer or its agents and the buyer has at least once directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the problem as provided in the warranty or owner’s manual or (3) The vehicle is out of service because of the repair of any number of problems by the manufacturer or its agents for a cumulative total of more than 30 days since delivery of the vehicle.
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I brought it to AAMCO because they do a free “Engine Light Diagnostic” and more than a dozen codes came up. What should I do? The car dealer gave me a warranty but its a powertrain warranty.
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You have a warranty to read up on then.
Make sure that powertrain warranty does not cover emissions, which is part of an engine, last I checked.
Oh, welcome to owning a used, out of warranty VW product. You will probably regret it, since you have no recourse. Never been there, but knowing how VW loves to skimp on warranties, you aren’t any better off.