Nissan Motor Corporation is a Japanese company that manufactures sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, and electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the United States. Consumer Reports says Nissan vehicles perform well but suffer from inconsistent quality and reliability and have average to below-average owner satisfaction.
If you have purchased or leased a defective Nissan in California, you may have legal options. Under the Lemon Law in California, a consumer may demand that a vehicle’s manufacturer buy the vehicle back if it has a substantial problem under warranty that the manufacturer has not repaired after a reasonable number of attempts.
The Barry Law Firm can help you if you have a lemon Nissan and a valid manufacturer’s original warranty. Our California Lemon Law attorneys have focused on Lemon Law claims and pursuing fair compensation for clients across California since 2010 – and we never charge for our services. If you have had enough of your faulty Nissan, contact The Barry Law Firm in Los Angeles today.
California Lemon Law for Nissan Vehicles
Under California law, if a car’s manufacturer cannot resolve a substantial defect in the vehicle that is covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the vehicle is considered a lemon. The owner or lessee has the right to demand that the manufacturer buy the vehicle back and refund the purchase or lease price, associated taxes and fees, and other money spent on the defective vehicle.
Is Your Nissan a Lemon?
A defect that may make a Nissan a lemon must be covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty and substantially impair the vehicle’s:
- Use — the vehicle’s basic function as reliable transportation, or
- Value — the vehicle’s overall resale value, or
- Safety — posing a serious risk of injury or death.
However, the law cannot be applied to issues caused by the owner’s neglect, misuse, or abuse of the vehicle or by unauthorized repair, after-market parts, or alterations of the vehicle.
The vehicle owner must have allowed the manufacturer, typically through an authorized dealership, a reasonable number of attempts to repair the problem. What’s considered a reasonable number of repair attempts can vary from case to case.
If a vehicle’s defect poses a significant danger, two or more attempts to fix the problem is typically considered reasonable under California law. Car manufacturers may be entitled to more than two attempts to repair less severe issues. And in certain circumstances, a vehicle that has been out of service for an inordinately long time may automatically qualify as a lemon.
Nissan Models That Could Be Lemons
While some Nissan models are known to be more unreliable than others, any vehicle manufactured by the Nissan Motor Corporation could potentially turn out to be a lemon. That includes the following recent Nissan models:
Nissan Cars
- Nissan Versa
- Nissan Sentra
- Nissan Altima
- Nissan LEAF (EV)
Nissan Trucks
- Nissan Frontier
- Nissan Titan
- Nissan Titan XD
Nissan Sports Cars
- Nissan Z
- Nissan GT-R
Nissan Crossovers and SUVs
- Nissan Kicks
- Nissan Rogue
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Nissan Murano
- Nissan Armada
- Nissan ARIYA (EV)
Defects in Nissan Vehicles That May Call for a Lemon Law Claim
Any defect that is under the manufacturer’s original warranty and substantially impairs a vehicle’s safety, usability, or value could make the vehicle a lemon under California law after a reasonable number of repair attempts. Common defects found in Nissans include:
- Transmission issues, which may cause shuddering, juddering, hesitations, slipping, and loss of power (particularly with Continuously Variable Transmissions or “CVT”)
- Engine problems, including surging, stalls, delayed acceleration, loss of power, excessive oil consumption, oil leaks, timing chain failure, and head gasket leaks
- Electrical problems that cause stalling or faulty warning lights
- Electronic stability control system malfunctions
- Defective fuel gauges and other fuel system problems
- Faulty brakes and brake fluid leaks
- Automatic emergency braking problems
- Faulty airbag sensors, which could interfere with appropriate deployment
- Steering issues, including power steering leaks, pulling, shaking, and drifting at highway speeds
- Faulty hood latches
- Infotainment/navigation system issues
If you aren’t sure whether your vehicle’s defect qualifies, a Nissan Lemon Law attorney can help.
What to Do If Your Nissan Is a Lemon
If your Nissan qualifies as a lemon, you may file a claim under California’s Lemon Law and demand that the manufacturer buy it back and refund the money you have spent on the vehicle. However, there are multiple steps to a claim, and it is a complicated process. Plus, Nissan is a large auto manufacturer with a legal team ready to fight your claim. But The Barry Law Firm can help.
Contact The Barry Law Firm for a free consultation about pursuing a Lemon Law buyback claim. We can help you:
- Review your purchase or lease agreement and your warranty. You must make sure the problem you are experiencing is covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty and that you are following any requirements the manufacturer may have for reporting problems with the vehicle.
- Assemble all documentation of problems with your vehicle. You should save all repair orders from work at the authorized dealership, records of communication with the manufacturer or dealership, and any other relevant documentation.
- Create a list of incidental costs related to your vehicle’s failures. For example, if you have had your vehicle towed because of its defects or had to rent a replacement vehicle, we can help you pursue a refund for those costs. It’s crucial to save all your receipts, invoices, and other records of expenses or losses related to your Nissan lemon to support your claim.
- File a California Lemon Law claim. An attorney from The Barry Law Firm can manage your Nissan Lemon Law claim from start to finish. We will compile evidence, take care of paperwork, and negotiate aggressively with Nissan to make things right for you. And if it is necessary, we will be prepared to take a solid Lemon Law case to court for you.
Call Today for a FAST & FREE Consultation
The Barry Law Firm is ready to begin evaluating your potential Nissan Lemon Law claim and pursuing compensation for you – all at no cost to you. When you work with us, we will never charge you for our services. California’s Lemon Law requires the manufacturer to pay the consumer’s legal costs in a successful claim, and you’ll never see a bill from us – no matter the outcome of your case.
Our team is made up of skilled Lemon Law lawyers with an outstanding track record of getting justice for thousands of consumers across California. Contact The Barry Law Firm today for your FAST & FREE case evaluation to learn how we can help you, too.
