What Vehicle Manufacturers Make the Most Lemons?

Lawrence Shanahan was slowly backing up in the new 2020 Ford Edge FWD SEL he had leased from Fiesta Ford in Riverside County when the backup camera at the vehicle’s rear failed. The screen went blank. Shanahan backed into a metal bar protruding from a truck behind him, which would have been visible with a functioning backup camera.

After having the vehicle’s camera system repaired at their own expense (a $2,000 insurance deductible), the Shanahans received a recall notice from Ford citing the rear-view camera’s failure. Nine days after getting the recall repairs, the backup camera failed again. During the first year of their lease, Shanahan returned the Edge to the dealership at least five times for repairs to fix the safety defects. The vehicle was in the repair shop for more than 48 days. As Shanahan pursued a Lemon Law claim, Ford stonewalled until the eve of trial, when Ford finally offered the couple a refund for their unsafe car.

Lawrence and Bonnie Shanahan’s story is one of several published by the Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety Foundation and the CALPIRG Education Fund about Californians using the Lemon Law to protect themselves from defective cars. Their stories are part of The Auto Lemon Index, which considers which auto manufacturers are sued the most over defective cars in California.

You may have a California Lemon Law claim if you have a new vehicle that developed problems under warranty and has not been repaired despite multiple attempts. Schedule a free consultation with an experienced Lemon Law attorney at The Barry Law Firm to discuss your consumer rights. Our law firm focuses solely on providing Lemon Law representation to consumers and never charges clients attorney fees. The auto manufacturer must pay the legal fees when we bring successful Lemon Law claims.

What Does It Mean That a Car is a Lemon?

Under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a motor vehicle is considered a lemon if a defect that significantly impairs its use, value, or safety has not been repaired after a reasonable number of attempts and is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

California’s Lemon Law allows the car owner or lessee to demand that the manufacturer buy the vehicle back or replace it with a similar vehicle.

At The Barry Law Firm, our Lemon Law attorneys help California consumers hold manufacturers accountable when they have been sold a lemon. Our Lemon Law attorneys can help you navigate the requirements of California’s Lemon Law and present an effective claim.

Manufacturers with a History of Lemon Law Claims

Any car manufacturer can produce a defective vehicle. But some auto manufacturers face more Lemon Law claims. According to the Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety Foundation report, these are the auto manufacturers cited in Lemon Law cases in California from 2018 to 2021:

Manufacturer Total Lemon Law Cases
General Motors 9,892
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles 5,798
Ford Motor Company 4,721
Nissan North America 4,308
American Honda Motor Company 2,026
Kia Motors America 1,144
Volkswagen Group of America 1,091
Jaguar Land Rover North America 1,021
Mercedes-Benz 927
BMW of North America 803
Hyundai Motor America 760
Toyota Motor Sales 753
Subaru of America 330
Tesla 217
Porsche Cars of North America 183
Mazda Motor of America 112
Volvo Cars of America 90
Mitsubishi Motors North America 31
Maserati North America 29

The total of 34,136 cases excludes 261 filed against smaller manufacturers, such as Suzuki, Aston Martin, and Rolls Royce, and cases about other types of vehicles, such as motorcycles and RVs. Porsche and Maserati are part of larger automakers (Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler, respectively). The cases listed cited the subsidiary brands as defendants. Tesla Motors primarily sells vehicles directly to consumers, and its case numbers may be affected by its use of arbitration, the report says. Fiat Chrysler became part of Stellantis in 2021.

From 2018 through 2021, General Motors was taken to court the most often over lemons — and Toyota the least often – relative to their market share, the report says.

Defects Cited in California Lemon Law Cases

Lemon Law claims in California from 2018 through 2021 cited defects ranging from an information screen that displayed everything upside down to loss of power while driving, the CARS report says. In some cases, cars were sold with unaddressed safety recalls, and in others, consumers were dealing with multiple problems by the time they pursued litigation.

Here are some of the defective parts and systems cited in California Lemon Law lawsuits in 2021:

  •   Adaptive cruise control
  •   Air conditioner / HVAC system
  •   All-wheel drive
  •   Backup camera
  •   Battery
  •   Brakes
  •   Clutch
  •   Coolant system
  •   Emergency brake system
  •   Engine control module
  •   EVAP purge solenoid valve
  •   Front engine mount
  •   Front radar collision sensor
  •   Fuel filter
  •   Fuel injectors
  •   Lane change assistance
  •   Left strut assembly
  •   Navigation software
  •   O2 (oxygen) sensor
  •   Odometer
  •   Power control module
  •   Power steering system
  •   Seat belts
  •   Throttle chamber
  •   Timing cover with oil pump assembly
  •   Tire pressure monitoring system
  •   Transmission range control module
  •   Valve timing actuator
  •   Windshield wiper fluid system

Protect Your Rights as a California Consumer

A new or used car is one of the biggest purchases most people make. Here are some tips for making a purchase:

  •   Comparison shop. Check prices online, in vehicle pricing guides, newspaper ads, and publications like the National Automobile Dealers Association’s (NADA) Guides, Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book, and Consumer Reports.
  •   Compare interest rates. You will generally be better off with a loan from a bank or credit union instead of an auto dealership. Car loans from credit unions generally have lower interest rates than banks, more flexible repayment terms, and lower fees.
  •   Read the purchase contract, manufacturer’s warranty, or extended warranties.
  • Check a used vehicle’s history through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). Licensed dealers selling used cars must have an NMVTIS report to show you.

The Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights provides certain protections when you buy a vehicle from a licensed California dealer, including:

  • Buyer Disclosures. No charges may be added to your contract without full disclosure and your consent. Dealers must give you an itemized price list for optional “add-on” items, such as service contracts, insurance, and anti-theft devices.
  • Certified Used Cars. Used cars advertised as certified must meet specific requirements. Dealers must perform a complete vehicle inspection and give you a copy of the inspection report.
  • Right to Cancel Used Car Purchase. When buying a used car, you have the right to a two-day cancellation option with some exceptions. This allows you to test drive the vehicle or have it checked out by a mechanic and request a full refund within two days — for any reason. Dealers can charge you a non-refundable fee for the contract cancellation option.

Let Us Help If Your Car is a Lemon

If you have a new or used car under warranty that the dealership has been unable to repair, you may be eligible for California Lemon Law protections. Let The Barry Law Firm review your case and help you pursue a Lemon Law claim. We’ll help you at no charge because California’s law requires the manufacturer to pay the attorney’s fees after a successful claim. No matter the outcome, we’ll never charge you a penny.

Contact a Lemon Law lawyer at The Barry Law Firm at 424-688-9516 in Los Angeles, CA, or online for experienced help with your faulty automobile.

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The Barry Law Firm

11845 W Olympic Blvd Suite 1270

Los Angeles, California 90064

Phone: 310-684-5859

Free Consultation: 877-536-6603