California Lemon Law for Electric Vehicles - Know Your Rights

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a common sight on California roads, with models like the Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet Bolt, and Hyundai Ioniq leading the charge. But EVs can have problems just like gas-powered cars — and sometimes those problems are even harder to fix.

If your electric vehicle has repeated issues that the dealer can’t repair, California’s Lemon Law protects you. Here’s what you need to know.

How Does Lemon Law Apply to EVs?

California Lemon Law treats electric vehicles exactly the same as traditional gasoline vehicles. If a defect affects the use, value, or safety of the EV, and the manufacturer cannot fix it within a reasonable number of attempts, you may qualify for a buyback, a replacement, or a cash settlement.

In most cases, the manufacturer pays your legal fees, meaning you don’t pay anything out of pocket.

Common Electric Vehicle Defects

Even the most advanced EVs can suffer from serious manufacturing defects. The most common issues we see in lemon law cases include:

• Battery pack failures or sudden loss of charge

• Defective charging systems

• Electrical short circuits

• Software glitches that disable driving features

• Faulty autonomous driving or lane-keeping systems

• Power loss during acceleration

Because many repair shops still lack the training or tools to fix EVs, repeated repair delays are very common.

Examples of EV Lemon Law Cases

✅ Tesla Model 3 — repeated infotainment screen freezing, affecting backup cameras and turn signals

✅ Chevrolet Bolt EV — battery fire recalls, repeated battery replacements

✅ Hyundai Kona Electric — sudden power loss while driving

✅ Nissan Leaf — charging port failure, refusing to take a charge

If you have faced similar issues, you are not alone.

What Should You Do if Your Electric Vehicle Is a Lemon?

1. Save all repair records — dates, mileage, and descriptions

2. Document the problem — photos, videos, even text messages with the dealer

3. Contact a lemon law attorney — the sooner, the better

California Lemon Law FAQs

Q: Does lemon law really cover EVs?

A: Yes — as long as the vehicle is under the manufacturer’s warranty when the problems begin, EVs are fully protected.

Q: What about battery recalls?

A: A recall does not automatically fix your lemon law rights. If the recall doesn’t resolve the defect, you can still make a lemon law claim.

Q: Will I owe money on my loan if my EV is bought back?

A: No — the manufacturer pays off your auto loan as part of the buyback.

Get Help With Your EV Lemon Law Claim

If your electric vehicle has repeated, unfixable issues, California Lemon Law gives you powerful rights. Our team of experienced lemon law attorneys can review your case for free, help you understand your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.