General Motors (GM) designs and manufactures cars, trucks, and automobile parts under four major vehicle brands: GMC, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick. The auto manufacturer sells thousands of cars and pickup trucks in California every year. Some of these GM vehicles turn out to be unreliable and defective vehicles.
You may be among the unsatisfied GM owners who have purchased a faulty GM vehicle which GM has defied or failed multiple attempts to repair it, under the manufacturer’s warranty. The Barry Law Firm can evaluate a potential California Lemon Law claim for you and discuss your legal options. If your GM vehicle qualifies, our Lemon Law lawyers can use the California Lemon Law process to file a claim and pursue an appropriate settlement for you.
If GM does not honor their warranty, our attorneys will be ready to take your Lemon Law case to court to persuade a judge and jury that you deserve fair compensation for your lemon automobile.
Common Defects with GM Vehicles
GM brands and models have had a wide range of mechanical problems and defects over the years. The common GM defects our Lemon Law lawyers most often see with GM lemons are:
- Transmission problems causing shuttering, hesitating, surging, slipping, and harsh shifts
- Defective AC compressor/condenser
- Defective engine
- Brake booster / electronic stability control system failure
- Suspension failure / rough ride
- Engine surging, stalling, loss of power
- Magnetic ride suspension failure
- Electrical issues / faulty warning light errors
- Infotainment system malfunctions
- Steering lock at high speed
- Faulty aluminum driveshafts causing the “Chevy Shake”
If your GM vehicle’s issue is not listed above, our Lemon Law attorneys may still be able to assist you. If you have given the manufacturer a reasonable number of attempts to fix your issue, but they have been unable to correct a mechanical problem with your GM car or truck, contact a Lemon Law lawyer at The Barry Law Firm in Los Angeles today for a FAST and FREE consultation. Learn about your options for pursuing a California Lemon Law case.
Which Defects Can Warrant a Lemon Law Claim?
Under the California Lemon Law (Civ. Code, § 1793.2 et seq.), the manufacturer of a motor vehicle may be required to buy back or replace the vehicle if, after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the GM dealer cannot repair a problem that:
- Is covered by the vehicle warranty,
- Substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle, and
- Is not caused by unreasonable use of the vehicle after sale.
The Lemon Law does not define what constitutes a reasonable number of attempts to repair defective GM vehicles. However, typically two or more attempts are considered reasonable, depending on the issue.
GM Vehicle Models That Could Be Lemons
If you have been unable to have a problem with one of the following GM models repaired, you should speak to a California Lemon Law attorney with The Barry Law Firm:
- Buick Enclave
- Buick Encore
- Buick LaCrosse
- Buick Regal
- Cadillac CT6
- Cadillac Escalade
- Cadillac XT4
- Cadillac XT5
- Cadillac XT6
- Chevrolet Bolt
- Chevrolet Camaro
- Chevrolet Cruze
- Chevrolet Equinox
- Chevrolet Express
- Chevrolet Impala
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Chevrolet Trax
- Chevrolet Volt
- Chevrolet Corvette
- GMC Acadia
- GMC Sierra
- GMC Terrain
- GMC Yukon
FAQs on the General Motors Lemon Law Process
Do I have to go to court to prove my GM Lemon Law claim?
Not necessarily. Even when you file a lawsuit, you may not have to go to court. If The Barry Law Firm handles your Lemon Law lawsuit, our attorneys will look for opportunities to negotiate a fair settlement with GM’s attorneys as the opposing sides exchange evidence. Many lawsuits settle before they go to court, especially after evidence is revealed in discovery.
What compensation can I expect under the Lemon Law for a GM vehicle?
Under California’s Lemon Law, GM may offer to replace your vehicle or to reimburse you for everything you have spent on your faulty GM vehicle. The latter choice would include your down payment, all monthly payments you have made, sales taxes, finance charges, and every dollar you have spent on repair attempts. As your attorneys, we would also demand reimbursement for anything you spent on rental cars or other transportation options while your GM lemon vehicle was in the shop.
Most Lemon Law claims are settled outside of court through negotiations. GM may offer to repurchase your vehicle and reimburse you for what you paid for the GM lemon, along with all or a portion of your other costs. They may offer a replacement vehicle, plus certain other costs.
An attorney with The Barry Law Firm will advise you of any settlement offer and discuss whether it is a reasonable offer. Whether to accept a settlement offer is always your decision. If GM fails to make an acceptable settlement offer, The Barry Law Firm will be prepared to take your claim to court, where a jury will determine what compensation you deserve.
Do I need a lawyer to file a Lemon Law claim for my GM vehicle?
You will benefit from the knowledge of an experienced Lemon Law attorney who has handled GM Lemon Law cases and understands the legal process. The Barry Law Firm focuses exclusively on California Lemon Law cases. We have the knowledge and the resources to take on a Lemon Law case and demand that the manufacturer provide maximum compensation for a defective GM vehicle. We have the experience and expertise to manage all the details and deadlines of your claim from start to finish.
Who pays for my GM Lemon Lawyer?
California’s Lemon Law provides that if GM is found liable, the manufacturer is responsible for paying the attorney’s fees the consumer incurs. At The Barry Law Firm, we’ll never charge you a penny. We make the manufacturers pay all fees and costs related to your claim. If we don’t recover money for you, we don’t charge a fee at all.
