For drivers in Sacramento and across Sacramento County, from Elk Grove and Citrus Heights to Folsom.
Key Takeaways
If the same warranty defect keeps sending your car back to the dealer, California's Song-Beverly Act may entitle you to have the manufacturer refund the car or replace it. Some claims go through a manufacturer's state-certified arbitration program; a lawsuit filed in Sacramento County is heard at the Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Courthouse, 500 G Street. No fee unless we win. On a successful claim the manufacturer pays your attorney fees under the Song-Beverly Act.
Anyone who bought or leased a personal-use car, truck or SUV and reported a substantial defect while the factory warranty applied. Motorcycles follow different rules.
For 18 months or 18,000 miles from delivery: a serious safety defect repaired twice, one other defect repaired four times, or over 30 days out of service in all.
Your price, taxes and fees refunded less a usage offset, or a substantially identical replacement. The choice is yours, not the manufacturer's.
No fee unless we win. On a successful claim the manufacturer pays your attorney fees under the Song-Beverly Act.
Since April 13, 2026, civil cases in Sacramento County are heard at the new Railyards courthouse on G Street, not the Schaber courthouse on 9th Street.
Downtown, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova or Folsom: the statute is the same across California, and so is the way we run a claim.
The first review costs nothing. We read the repair orders and tell you plainly whether they add up to a claim.
No fee unless we win. On a successful claim the manufacturer pays your attorney fees under the Song-Beverly Act.
From day one you talk with the attorney on your case, not a call center.
We explain whether a certified arbitration program, a demand letter or a Superior Court case fits your claim, and handle the route you choose. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
One statewide law, applied to capital-region commutes and Central Valley summers.
Where you drive doesn't change the law, but it shapes the repair history you build.
Interstate 5, US 50, State Route 99 and the Capital City Freeway meet at two big interchanges close to downtown Sacramento, and most people here drive to work. Census Bureau figures for 2024 show 68.8% of Sacramento County's workers commuting alone by car, with an average one-way trip of 27.6 minutes. US 50 has also been a long work zone, where Caltrans' Fix50 project added HOV lanes between the Interstate 5 interchange and Watt Avenue, with lane and connector closures along the way.
Heat is the other local factor. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for Sacramento Executive Airport show 75.6 days a year at 90°F or above and 14 days at 100°F or above, with a July normal high of 92.6°F. Cooling systems, air conditioning, batteries and EV charging hardware get used hard in those months, though the weather alone doesn't show that any of them is defective. When one fails, comes back from the dealer and fails again, the repair history can start to read like a Lemon Law claim.
The state program behind certified Lemon Law arbitration, and how it fits a claim anywhere in California.
The Department of Consumer Affairs' Arbitration Certification Program certifies and monitors the arbitration programs some manufacturers offer for warranty disputes, and it publishes the list of manufacturers that opted into the newer pre-suit procedures under AB 1755 and SB 26. Title records matter too. When a manufacturer buys a vehicle back and resells it, Civil Code section 1793.23 requires it to have the Department of Motor Vehicles mark the title "Lemon Law Buyback". The program's rules are the same in every county.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act applies when the manufacturer or its authorized dealers can't fix a substantial defect after a reasonable number of attempts under warranty. The remedy is a refund or a replacement, and many cases end in a cash settlement instead. What is local is the paperwork: the repair orders from the service departments you use, whether it's Elk Grove's auto mall or a dealer near work, and the court that would hear a Sacramento County case.
The California Supreme Court ruled in Rodriguez v. FCA US, on October 31, 2024, that a used car sold with nothing more than the remainder of its original factory coverage is outside the Act's definition of a "new motor vehicle", unless a fresh new-car warranty was issued at that sale. A certified pre-owned badge does not settle eligibility by itself; the question is whether the manufacturer wrote a fresh warranty into that sale. When refund or replacement is unavailable, other warranty claims may remain open depending on the paperwork, and we review that. The refund-or-replace remedy also has limits on vehicle type. It leaves out motorcycles and off-highway vehicles that aren't registered for road use, and for a motorhome it covers the chassis and drivetrain but not the living quarters. Song-Beverly's general warranty rules can still protect a motorcycle or an RV's living area, so we look at each vehicle to see which remedy applies.
Four conditions decide whether a car, truck or SUV qualifies for a refund or replacement.
A car with a problem isn't automatically a lemon. Four things usually have to line up:
Timing matters as well. Under the ordinary rules a warranty claim generally has to be filed within four years, and the date that period starts can be disputed; manufacturers that opted into the AB 1755 procedures have a separate limit for refund or replacement suits, tied to the end of the warranty. If the manufacturer runs a state-certified arbitration program and told you about it in writing in time, you have to try that program before you can rely on the repair-attempt presumption in court. When a Song-Beverly claim is a poor fit, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act sometimes gives a second route.
Every visit to the service department should end with a work order that records your complaint, what the technician found and what was done. Those orders are the backbone of the claim. If the shop says it couldn't reproduce the problem, ask for that in writing; a visit that finds nothing still documents a repair attempt. If the fault appears in stop-and-go traffic on US 50 or on the climb toward South Lake Tahoe, write down when and where, so the record shows the conditions.
The usual path from first review to resolution, including the Sacramento stops along the way.
You do less than you might expect. We deal with the manufacturer, the paperwork and the negotiation. You keep the car on the road, or park it if it's unsafe, and stay in touch with your case manager.
The review is free. We go through the repair orders and warranty terms and tell you whether the facts support a claim. A single repair visit is rarely enough, and we'll say so instead of filing a weak case.
Before anything is filed, we put the claim to the automaker in writing and ask for a buyback or replacement. A well-documented demand often settles the case here. For a manufacturer on the Department of Consumer Affairs' AB 1755 list, written notice at least 30 days before a suit that seeks civil penalties opens a 30-day period for it to offer a buyback or replacement, so we check that list first.
If the manufacturer stalls or lowballs, the claim moves forward. Where the manufacturer has a state-certified arbitration program, the Arbitration Certification Program says decisions usually come about 40 days after the program receives the application, and you can accept or reject the result. A Sacramento County lawsuit goes to Superior Court. Since April 13, 2026, matters once housed at the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse on 9th Street are heard at the Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Courthouse, 500 G Street, in the Railyards. We prepare every file as if it will go to trial.
A buyback can return your down payment, monthly payments and loan payoff, along with sales tax, registration and the towing or rental-car bills the defect caused. No fee unless we win. On a successful claim the manufacturer pays your attorney fees under the Song-Beverly Act.
We take cases from across Sacramento County, including Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Carmichael and Folsom, and handle them from our Beverly Hills office. Where you bought the car, and which dealer services it, doesn't change your rights.
Licensed California attorneys handle your claim from start to finish.
Cases at The Lemon Pros are led by attorneys Michael Saeedian (California Bar No. 265470) and Timan Khoubian (California Bar No. 296208), both licensed to practice in every California court, Sacramento County Superior Court included. They run Song-Beverly claims across the state from the firm's Beverly Hills office at 9100 Wilshire Blvd.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The information on this page is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation.
Straight answers for Sacramento and capital-region owners.
4.7 from 104 Google reviews
3 months ago
the folks at lemon pros got me exactly what I asked for plus a bit more for my jeep. they were very honest with the process and kept me up to date constantly. would recommend them without hesitation! worked with Anthony Greco & team :)
3 months ago
Though I had to learn the virtue of patience (it took a little time), I had an excellent experience with the Pros, from beginning to end. The entire team was professional, knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely committed to helping me through my lemon law case. They kept me informed throughout the process, answered my questions promptly, and handled everything with integrity and professionalism. They achieved a successful outcome on my behalf ($27,600). I highly recommend this firm to anyone in need of a knowledgeable and trustworthy lemon law attorney. Thank you for your patience with me and for your outstanding service!
4 months ago
Trust the process. Suzy and Anthony were able to get me a buy back from GM after constant issues with the transmission. Suzy was patient explaining everything and returned my calls/emails/text within 24hrs. She’s the best. Anthony (Tony) was straight forward and did everything he could to get me my money. No BS, or changes at the end. It’s a process but they know what they are doing. Delivered on everything he promised. Thank you for all the help and it was worth the wait. I was able to get a new car because of you guys.
4 months ago
The Lemon pros Worked with me During a time, I’m in my life, where I was going through a lot of transitions. They were professional, and very patient as I was not always disposable or able to find paperwork for my claim. It was not overnight, but when the day came for The Lemon pros to negotiate my settlement, It was a glorious outcome. I Told the Lemon pros get me at least $10,000 and I’ll be Happy, And what did they do? They hit the ball out of the park!!!! and got me a settlement of $17,500!!!! And I got The Check without amount to prove it!!! Thanks, Lemon pros!!!!!
10 months ago
I couldn’t be more grateful for the outstanding team at The Lemon Pros. Their team was fantastic from start to finish, always responsive, professional, and committed to keeping me informed every step of the way. Their follow-through was exceptional and their determination truly made a difference in achieving a positive outcome in my case. I’m so glad I chose them to represent me and I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking a dedicated and reliable team.
Reviews reflect individual experiences. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Heading south on Highway 99 or Interstate 5? These pages cover the Central Valley cities below the capital region.
Background reading on how the statute works and what your vehicle might be worth.
Every day you wait is a day the manufacturer wins. Take 60 seconds to find out if your vehicle qualifies, it's free, confidential, and could change everything.
