Lemon laws protect consumers from having to drive a defective vehicle when it meets certain criteria. A lemon vehicle is one that has substantial defects affecting the use, value or safety and it cannot be repaired in a reasonable amount of time. The Ford Lemon law buyback is one option when dealing with these defective vehicles.
If the dealership and manufacturer are unable to fix the defective vehicle, a Ford lemon law claim may become necessary. With our Lemon law buyback calculator, you can quickly estimate what you might be owed for your Ford vehicle.
The Lemon Pros know how to win a Ford Lemon law case. With many years of working in this sole practice area, they’ve already secured millions of dollars for clients as a Ford Lemon law attorney. Contact us today for your free initial consultation.
In this guide, we cover the basics of California Lemon law cases and explain the Lemon law buyback process to you. With our simple tips, there’s a better chance of returning your defective Ford vehicles and freeing yourself from the burden.
A Lemon law buyback occurs when the manufacturer (Ford) takes back your defective vehicle and offers you monetary compensation in exchange. It usually occurs if the vehicle has been in repeatedly for repairs without a successful fix.
Based on California’s Lemon law, known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, Ford is responsible for buying back the vehicle from you in certain conditions. However, every state has its own laws, so it’s important to research locally what the requirements are. Aside from state laws, there are also federal protections, such as the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.
It’s essential that Lemon law cases are filed as early as possible to avoid missing any deadlines and to avoid long-term issues with the vehicle. The sooner you start the Lemon law buyback process, the quicker you will be able to get out of the defective vehicle.
To start the Ford buyback process, your vehicle must be deemed a lemon. The following requirements are specific to California state's Lemon law only and must be met for any Lemon law cases against the Ford Motor Company.
In California, most Lemon law cases are filed for new cars. The defect must have started within 18 months or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. While there is some protection for used cars, the length of coverage corresponds with the warranty that was provided.
The defect must be covered under the warranty that’s provided, whether it is a manufacturer’s warranty or implied. Therefore, a claim cannot be filed for a part that’s considered consumable or another component that isn’t included in the warranty protection.
What if the Ford vehicle is out of warranty? In some situations, you may be able to sue the car dealership for another reason, allowing you to get the compensation you deserve.
The defect must impair the use, value or safety of the vehicle. Examples of use may include defective air conditioning, a malfunctioning engine or trouble with the electrical system, while the value issues can be seen in paint defects or other cosmetic concerns. Safety troubles include brake issues or airbag defects.
The Ford vehicle qualifies for buyback once there have been an adequate number of repair attempts without success. With serious safety issues, the reasonable number of attempts only needs to be two. However, all other issues require a minimum of four reasonable attempts to repair the vehicle.
In addition to the repair attempts, you can also count the amount of time the car was in the shop. If you’ve had the Ford vehicle in the repair shop for more than thirty days total for one problem (doesn’t need to be consecutive days), it may qualify for a cash settlement.
Today’s Ford lemon cars suffer from a long list of common defects, all of which qualify for a case. Vehicle owners and lessees are dealing with malfunctioning transmissions, disabled door locks, electrical system malfunctions, engine defects, performance problems and defective safety systems.
In some cases, the Ford is also dealing with a persistent car recall that can’t be repaired. In 2024 alone, nearly two million Ford Explorer models were recalled for trim pieces that detach and nearly 500,000 Ford Bronco Sport and Maverick models were recalled for battery issues.
Your new vehicle shouldn’t deal with these kinds of major defects, especially on an ongoing basis. If the auto manufacturers can’t make it right and get the vehicle repaired, you can take legal action. Get a free initial consultation with a qualified law firm for more guidance.
Once you confirm that your Ford is a lemon, you have the right to file a claim. Here are the steps to the entire process for you to follow.
Whether you want cash compensation or a replacement vehicle, it’s critical to keep detailed records of everything that’s occurred with your defective vehicle. Start from the beginning by gathering your purchase agreement and warranty paperwork. From there, you need to compile all of the repair attempts that have occurred at the authorized dealership. These records should include the date, original complaint and resolution (if any). You also want record of any conversations you had about the problem.
Make a note of how many days your car was in the shop at the local dealership. If you’ve communicated with the dealership or manufacturer over the phone, write down the date of the conversation, the person you spoke with and the outcome. Additionally, keep copies of any emails or text messages. The more documentation you have to show the mechanical defects, the better your chances are of getting compensation.
You are required to provide written notice of your intent to pursue a Lemon law buyback. Contact the new car manufacturer and dealership with an outline of your next steps. You want to document how the vehicle meets the guidelines for Lemon law and detail the outcome you hope for, either compensation through the Ford buyback program or with a replacement vehicle.
From here, Ford may offer a settlement to expedite the process. However, there’s also the chance that there will be no response and you will need to continue through the process. For this reason, you want to send the written notification by certified mail, so there’s record that it was received by the manufacturer.
Once you’ve given Ford the chance to make the complaint right, it’s time to file a claim. You must follow all of the state guidelines for a lemon law buyback. In most cases, it’s best to have a Lemon law attorney for this process, just to ensure nothing gets missed that could cost you compensation.
Ford has the right to inspect the vehicle to verify the defects you’ve documented. Whether there’s been a long history of transmission issues, electrical problems or steering issues, you may be required to take the car to a local dealership for a further inspection. The technician may also want to look over the existing repair orders to see what was performed.
Ford may offer to fix the defects again. While this may be a reasonable outcome in some cases, you aren’t required to agree to this if you’ve already allowed enough attempts previously. For this reason, you want to work hand-in-hand with a qualified attorney who can steer you in the right direction.
There’s always the chance that Ford will deny your Lemon law claim. With the right evidence and proper documentation, it’s harder for Ford to deny the claim, but it still happens. For starters, you’ll want to appeal the decision, escalating your case within the company.
If you can’t get anywhere with Ford, you need to file a lawsuit against the company. A Lemon law lawyer can help you file the proper paperwork to take your case further.
The Lemon Pros have the experience needed to take on your case against Ford. With a free initial consultation and our contingency fees, you don’t need to pay any legal costs upfront. Contact us for your free case evaluation.
Our Lemon law professionals have expertise handling cases against Ford, whether you drive an F-150 or Mach E. We can work with the manufacturer and repurchase coordinator to ensure you get a fair and just settlement. We also relieve some of the burden from your shoulders by handling the claim from start to finish, helping you stay informed throughout the entire process.
You probably won’t receive a full refund for your vehicle during a buyback, but you can expect a portion of the expenses, minus an offset for the mileage you drove before the defects occurred. The mileage offset formula takes the purchase price, finance charges and payments into account. Aside from this reimbursement, you can also recover some other costs, such as your sales tax, registration fees, towing expenses and money spent on rental cars.
If you prefer to get a replacement vehicle, Ford can give you a comparable model in exchange for the defective car. It will be the same year and model, but it will be defect-free.
Additionally, there’s the option to choose a cash settlement to keep the car. If the single defect doesn’t significantly impact everyday use, you may choose this option instead. However, this settlement offer will result in the car receiving a lemon title and it can lose some of its value, so it’s important to seek legal counsel before agreeing to anything.
To ensure you get the compensation you seek, follow these key steps.
Keep detailed records: Meticulous documentation is necessary to strengthen the case.
Understand your rights: Research local lemon laws and make sure your car matches the specific criteria outlined.
Stay on top of the filing time limit: You don’t want to miss important deadlines to file a claim (ex. within four years for California claims).
Consult an expert: Even if the case seems cut and dry, it’s best to meet with a Lemon law attorney for expert guidance.
The Lemon law buyback timeline can take anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on the situation. If you have your documentation in order and the case is clear-cut, you can expect a shorter claim time in most cases. It also helps to work with a lawyer, as this simple step shows the manufacturer that you are serious and aren’t going to accept no for an answer.
If you filed a claim long ago and it’s still not resolved, it’s never too late to work with an attorney. Contact our offices for more guidance and let us provide relief.
Filing a Ford buyback claim can be a complicated process without the right counsel on your side. You don’t need to be stuck in a defective vehicle any longer if you choose an expert attorney to handle your case. If your vehicle qualifies for a buyback, don’t wait any longer to start the process.
The Lemon Pros handle claims across the state, from San Francisco to San Diego and beyond. We’ve been hailed as the best Lemon law attorney in the state because of our expert guidance and high success rate. Contact us today for your free case evaluation and prepare for your buyback.
Phone: (855) 725-2446
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