If you have an Acura with a substantial warranty-covered defect that has been unrepairable after the manufacturer’s multiple attempts, you may be due restitution of the money you have sunk into that faulty vehicle. Under consumer protections provided by the California Lemon Law, you may be able to demand that Acura buy your car back from you and pay other costs associated with having a lemon Acura.
Japan’s Honda Motor Co. has had great success in California and across America since introducing the Acura line of luxury and performance sedans and SUVs to America in 1986. Consumer Reports has repeatedly recommended Acura vehicles for their comfort, handling, and above-average reliability.
But popular Acura models like the Acura Integra and TLX sedans and Acura RDX and MDX SUVs have also burdened some owners with repeated engine failures, transmission problems, and electrical issues. Certain model-year versions have even been recalled due to manufacturing defects.
If the manufacturer’s warranty covers the problems you are experiencing with your Acura and you have tried repeatedly to have it repaired at an authorized Acura dealership, you may have a lemon. The Barry Law Firm may be able to help you seek a Lemon Law buyback – and we’ll do it at no charge to you. Our firm focuses solely on Lemon Law claims and has been securing fair compensation for clients like you from across California since 2010.
If you have wasted too much time dealing with your lemon car, contact an Acura Lemon Law attorney at The Barry Law Firm in Los Angeles today.
Is Your Acura a Lemon?
Under California’s Lemon Law, a motor vehicle is considered a lemon if:
- It has a substantial defect that impairs its safety, use, or value.
- The defect is covered by the manufacturer’s original written warranty.
- The defect cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts by the manufacturer (typically through a local authorized dealership).
- The vehicle was obtained in California.
Let’s break these requirements down further to see if they apply to your Acura.
Substantial Defect
The defect must be an issue that substantially impairs the vehicle’s:
- Safety, creating serious danger of injury or death,
- Use, undercutting its basic function as reliable transportation, or
- Value, reducing its overall resale value.
However, the Lemon Law does not apply to problems caused by neglect, misuse, or abuse of the vehicle. It also doesn’t cover issues linked to unauthorized repairs, after-market parts, or alterations.
Under Warranty
When you purchase or lease a new vehicle in California, it should come with a warranty from the manufacturer. To qualify as a lemon, your vehicle’s defect must be covered by this original written warranty while it’s still valid. If the manufacturer’s warranty has expired, you may still be covered if you initially tried to have the car repaired while the warranty was in force, but there is a statute of limitations on how long you have to file your claim, so don’t wait to contact a Lemon Law attorney.
Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts
For your Acura to be considered a lemon, you must allow the manufacturer a reasonable number of attempts to repair its problems. But what’s considered a reasonable number of repairs can vary from case to case:
- Defects posing a significant danger – Under the California Lemon Law, two or more attempts to fix the problem are typically considered reasonable.
- Less severe problems – The manufacturer may be entitled to more than two attempts to repair the problem.
- Out of service for an inordinate amount of time – In certain circumstances, your vehicle may automatically qualify as a lemon.
Obtained in California
In most cases, your defective Acura must have been purchased or leased in California to qualify for a Lemon Law buyback under the state’s law. But members of the U.S. armed services who are stationed or residing in California enjoy the protections provided by the California Lemon Law regardless of where they bought or leased their faulty vehicle.
What Is Restitution Through an Acura Lemon Law Buyback?
If your Acura is a lemon, California law allows you to ask the court to order the manufacturer to repurchase your vehicle for the purchase price plus additional losses it has cost you. Restitution through a Lemon Law buyback of your Acura may include your:
- Purchase or lease price, including the down payment, monthly loan or lease payments you have made, and the remaining balance of your car loan
- Collateral charges, including payments for sales or use taxes, license and registration fees, and other official costs and fees
- Incidental costs, including reasonable costs paid for repairs, towing, and rental cars or other alternative transportation while your Acura was in the shop
- All legal fees, including attorneys’ fees and costs
California’s Lemon Law specifically states that vehicle manufacturers will pay the car owner’s attorneys’ fees and costs after a successful claim. That’s why you’ll never be billed by your Acura Lemon Law attorney from The Barry Law Firm, no matter the outcome.
However, California law also allows a manufacturer to deduct a “usage fee” or “mileage offset” from the amount they reimburse a consumer for a lemon car’s purchase price. It is based on the miles driven before the first attempt to have an unrepairable problem corrected. Your Acura Lemon Law attorney will calculate all of your losses and explain what compensation you may be entitled to in a buyback.
What Acura Models Could Be Lemons?
Any Acura may qualify as a lemon if it has a significant defect covered by the original warranty that the manufacturer has failed to correct after a reasonable number of repair attempts.
Acura sells a full lineup of models in California, ranging from a compact hatchback to a large “performance” SUV with seven seats in three rows. Most Acuras are also offered as sporty looking A-Spec or high-performance Type S versions of their respective models.
Recent Acura models include:
- Acura Integra (compact)
- Acura TLX (sedan)
- Acura ADX (compact SUV)
- Acura RDX (crossover SUV)
- Acura MDX (performance SUV)
- Acura ZDX (all-electric SUV)
What Defects Could Warrant an Acura Lemon Law Claim?
While Acura’s vehicles are generally reliable, owners have reported a range of issues. Lemon vehicle defects our Lemon Law attorneys often see are:
- Engine problems, including stalling or rough running, overheating, and excessive oil consumption
- Transmission problems, including total failure, jerky shifting between gears, and debris found in the transmission due to a failed torque converter clutch
- Electrical issues, including not starting due to ignition switch failure, battery drains, faulty infotainment systems, and errors in the forward-collision avoidance system
- Driveshaft failures
- Soft or low brake pedals
- Airbag failure to deploy
- Cracked dashboards
If you have any issue detrimental to your Acura’s safety, usability, or value that the manufacturer has failed to repair after a reasonable number of attempts, our team would like to discuss pursuing restitution for you through a Lemon Law buyback.
How Do You Prove Your Acura Is a Lemon?
Acura Lemon Law cases are based on documentation of the car owner’s ordeal and what it has cost them. To prove a Lemon Law claim in California, you’ll need to provide evidence that your car qualifies as a lemon and that you have met all the requirements.
You should gather records such as these to prepare for a claim:
- Purchase or lease agreement
- Loan contract
- Vehicle registration
- Acura written warranty
- Repair orders and invoices
- Receipts, bank statements, and credit card records of collateral and incidental costs
- Correspondence with the authorized dealership, service center, or manufacturer
- Any other available records related to your vehicle’s problem
Your Acura Lemon Law lawyer can help you assemble this documentation to build a solid case.
What Should You Do If Your Acura Is a Lemon?
If your repeated attempts to have your Acura repaired have proven futile and you think it is a lemon, you should contact The Barry Law Firm in Los Angeles. We can help you pursue a refund in a Lemon Law claim. It is a complicated process with multiple steps that an experienced Acura Lemon Law attorney can guide you through.
As your attorneys, we can help you get the necessary documents you don’t have. The Barry Law Firm will then aggressively press Acura to make restitution to you. If necessary, we will be prepared to take a solid case to court on your behalf.
Talk to an Acura Lemon Law Attorney at The Barry Law Firm
The Barry Law Firm is ready to demand compensation for you through an Acura Lemon Law claim. We are experienced California Acura Lemon Law attorneys and have an outstanding track record of obtaining justice for consumers like you. Plus, we can pursue restitution at no charge to you because when a consumer wins a Lemon Law claim in California, the vehicle manufacturer must pay their legal fees.
Contact The Barry Law Firm in Los Angeles, CA, at 877-LEMON-03 or reach out online today for your FAST and FREE legal consultation.
