Engine Misfires – When Does My Car Become a Lemon?

Soon after you’ve purchased or leased a new car, you may experience engine misfires that can cause various problems, including failure to start, rough idling, poor acceleration, or loss of engine power. Engine misfires can result from design or manufacturing defects in various engine components. Although a vehicle’s manufacturer should repair engine defects causing misfires under the powertrain warranty, manufacturers sometimes fail to resolve these issues despite multiple repair attempts.

Can you get a check engine light Lemon Law remedy? Understanding when engine misfires make your car a lemon under California law can help you get rid of your defective vehicle and seek financial compensation from your vehicle’s manufacturer.

Does a Misfiring Engine Automatically Make Your Car a Lemon?

Under the California Lemon Law, a car becomes a lemon when it has a defect that the vehicle’s manufacturer or the authorized dealer cannot fix despite having a reasonable number of repair attempts. The defect must be covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty and significantly impact the vehicle’s safety, use, or value.

Reasonable Opportunity

California’s Lemon Law covers defects that the manufacturer or authorized dealer cannot fix after a reasonable number of repair attempts. What constitutes a “reasonable” number of attempts depends on the individual circumstances of a case. However, a defect that presents a significant danger may require two or more repair attempts. Manufacturers may be allowed more attempts for less severe issues. A vehicle may also be a lemon if it is stuck in the authorized dealer’s shop for an inordinate amount of time.

Safety, Use, or Value

A misfiring engine can make a car a lemon when it substantially affects its reliability and usability, such as preventing the car from starting or requiring the driver to pull over. Engine misfires can also significantly reduce a vehicle’s value, as a buyer likely won’t want a car with an unreliable engine or that requires significant repairs. More importantly, engine troubles create a major safety risk, as sudden loss of power while driving, stalling, and poor acceleration can all cause an accident.

Common Causes of Engine Misfires That Could Make Your Vehicle a Lemon

Some of the top causes of engine misfires include:

• Faulty or worn spark plugs
• Faulty ignition coils
• Damaged spark plug wiring
• Clogged fuel injectors or filters
• Faulty fuel pumps
• Leaks in the intake manifold or engine hoses that allow additional air into the engine
• Malfunctioning mass airflow sensors
• Worn piston rings
• Damaged valves
• Blown head gaskets
• Defective engine sensors
• Electrical wiring problems
• Defective engine control modules or errors in the computer code

I Think My Car Is a Lemon – Now What?

If you suspect you may have purchased or leased a lemon vehicle with engine problems, taking prompt action can help you protect your rights under California’s Lemon Law. Steps you should take when you think you have a lemon include:

• Take your car to the manufacturer or an authorized dealership. The Lemon Law allows manufacturers a reasonable opportunity to fix a warranty-covered defect, so you must give them a chance to repair the problems with your vehicle’s engine. However, only repairs made by the manufacturer or the authorized dealership count.
• Keep records of all repairs. This documentation can help you establish when the manufacturer has made a reasonable number of repair attempts without successfully fixing your car’s engine, potentially making you eligible for a Lemon Law claim.
• Gather your purchase or lease documents. You may have the right to pursue financial compensation for the money you have paid to purchase or lease your vehicle. You should collect all the paperwork associated with the purchase or lease and proof of any payments you have made.
• Document your expenses. Remember to save copies of any invoices, bills, or receipts for losses associated with your vehicle’s repairs, including the cost of out-of-pocket repairs, towing, and alternative transportation.
• Contact a Lemon Law attorney. Talk to a Lemon Law attorney as soon as possible to discuss your eligibility for protection under the Lemon Law and the steps you need to take to pursue a claim.

The Importance of Proof

Pursuing a Lemon Law claim for a vehicle with a defective engine will require you to present evidence proving the existence of the defect, the manufacturer’s repair efforts, and the extent of your financial losses. Examples of records you may need to support your California Lemon Law claim include:

• Diagnostic reports that document a specific issue with the vehicle
• Photos or videos of the defect
• Repair records to document the manufacturer’s or authorized dealer’s efforts to fix the defect
• Purchase or lease documents, including financing agreements for a loan or lease
• Sales and use tax receipts
• Receipts for loan or lease payments
• Receipts of payment for registration fees
• Bills, invoices, or receipts for repairs, towing, car rental, and other alternative transportation

Compensation You Could Receive for Your Lemon

Under the Lemon Law, you may have the right to demand that the manufacturer buy back your faulty vehicle and compensate you for your related losses. Your financial recovery can include:

• The purchase or lease price you’ve paid for your vehicle
• Financing charges for an auto loan or lease
• Sales and use taxes
• Registration fees
• Expenses related to repair attempts for your vehicle, such as out-of-pocket repair costs, towing charges, car rental fees, and alternative transportation costs

The Lemon Law also requires manufacturers to pay the consumer’s attorney’s fees and legal costs in a successful claim. At The Barry Law Firm, we take that one step further. We won’t charge you anything to handle your Lemon Law claim, regardless of your case’s outcome. You can rest easy knowing your case is in good hands and you’ll never get a bill for our services.

If You Need a Lemon Law Attorney in California, The Barry Law Firm Is Ready to Help

If you have a faulty car engine and your vehicle’s manufacturer or authorized dealer cannot fix the issue after multiple attempts while under warranty, you need experienced legal advice and advocacy to help you pursue accountability and financial relief under California’s Lemon Law. Contact The Barry Law Firm today for a FAST & FREE consultation with a Lemon Law attorney to learn more about how engine misfires may entitle you to financial compensation from your vehicle’s manufacturer.