Lemon Law Experience

[disneychrista]

Anyone have any experience with a car that falls under the lemon law ? How difficult was it to get the dealer to buy your faulty car back? Was it something you needed to sue them to get done?

My 2024 Trailblazer is in the shop for a second time for electrical issues. They have not been able to figure out that issue either time. If I had been more diligent about it probably would have gone in at least 2-3 more times. I have had this car since November 2024 and had the first major issue in May of 2025 when the entire electrical system shut down, no dash lights, or gauges, couldn't get the car to shut down, the windows could not go up/down, the doors couldn't lock. It has happened a couple other times but very briefly. Then I got a power steering error message. Then more recently the cruise control & adaptive cruise control have gone off as I was driving down the freeway at 65mph. Finally, the stabletrek error message came on last Friday. They can see the errors but can't replicate them nor figure out how to fix them. I am about done with it. I am ready for a new car and be done with this.

 

[tvguy]

Well, the dealer doesn't buy the car back, the manufacturer does.
My son had a Hyundai Kona EV that the dealer could not fix and had it over 30 days. My son called Hyundai direct and THEY were quite helpful. They told my son that a car being in the shop 30 days is an automatic buyback under California's Lemon Law. Hyundai was great, the dealer, not so great. Under the law the manufacturer brings in an independent third party to evaluate the car and ensure that it should be bought back. Hyundai said the process should be complete in a couple of weeks. Problem was, the DEALER refused to allow Hyundai's independent representative on the lot to look at the car. So the process took 3 months. My son got his money, and within a few months after that, Hyundai pulled the franchise from that dealer. It is reopened under a new owner.

 

[barkley]

is just one particular dealership having the issue? have you considered taking it to another (warranty should cover any authorized dealership)? I've found that the quality of service can vary greatly dealership to dealership.

I had an issue years ago with a Honda that I repeatedly took into the dealership complaining of an issue. they claimed they could never replicate my complaint. I contacted the manufacturer and told them the how many times/dealership response each time and they got involved and had the entire vehicle gone over during which they discovered that a part had been misinstalled when they vehicle was manufactured. from what I recall they questioned the dealership on why they hadn't caught it and were given some excuse they didn't care for so on top of it being repaired they extended their warranty for me.

 

[LuvOrlando]

We had a Sebring that oozed black tar from the doors. Dealer completely ignored the problem and would just wipe the goo away when we brought it in every once in a while over the summer. Later on we had a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo that would just shut itself off from time to time, I was afraid for my life sometimes but dealer also completely ignored that issue and it only came to light with a recall when the vehicle was over 10 years old so most were off the road and the problem became less expensive. In my experience the whole Lemon Law thing is a law without teeth, I have never known a single person who had their car taken care of for being defective. it makes people think they are protected but I've never seen it be enforced. This is one of the reasons I lease before I buy, it it is a lemon it's one or 2 years under warranty then gone.

What happened to me with the 05 Jeep sounds exactly like what is happening to you, looking back I think they knew exactly what was happening but strung me along - no regard at all for customer safety.

 

[disneychrista]

is just one particular dealership having the issue? have you considered taking it to another (warranty should cover any authorized dealership)? I've found that the quality of service can vary greatly dealership to dealership.

So far it is just the local dealer. I have thought about taking it to another dealer. I would do it next week, since I have a couple days off, expect I don't know what to do for a day while they look at it.