Have you been dealing with ongoing problems with your GMC car, truck, or SUV? If so, you have the right to expect the manufacturer to address and fix these issues. However, if the company has attempted to repair the problem without success, you might be entitled to legal relief under state or federal Lemon Law.
Determining whether your GMC vehicle qualifies as a “lemon” can be challenging, so our team of GMC lemon law lawyers is ready to help. We have extensive experience helping consumers like you understand their rights and legal options and hold vehicle manufacturers like GMC accountable for repairing or replacing defective vehicles. If you believe your vehicle might be a lemon, contact us for a 100% free and confidential consultation to discuss your situation and how we could help.
GMC Vehicles and Defects
General Motors Company (or GMC) was founded by William C. Durant in 1908 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. The company designs, produces, and sells automobiles and related components and offers financial services through its subsidiary, General Motors Financial Company, Inc.
GMC has multiple business segments, including GM North America, GM International, Cruise, and GM Financial. Along with GMC, it also sells vehicles under brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Baojun, Holden, Jiefang, Maven, Wuling, and OnStar.
Vehicles under the GMC brand scored a 3 out of 5 for reliability overall, according to vehicle maintenance and reliability site, RepairPal. The company evaluates reliability based on the average maintenance paid by vehicle owners, the number of unscheduled maintenance visits reported, and the yearly severity of repairs reported and required. Overall, GMC’s reliability rating ranked 22nd out of 32 brands evaluated by the company.
So, if you are concerned about Chevy lemon laws, Cadillac lemon law, Acadia or Sierra lemon law, the GMC buyback program, the GMC buyback process, or a lemon law settlement, it is recommended that you contact an experienced lemon law lawyer right away to discuss your rights and legal options.
What Rights Do I Have Under Federal “Lemon Laws?”
Under federal lemon laws, you might have a lemon law claim if GMC cannot repair your vehicle after a “reasonable number” of attempts. When this happens, the company might owe you a replacement or a full refund for the vehicle’s purchase price. You could also recover attorney’s fees if you hire a lawyer to handle your lemon law claim. Because they do not have mileage restrictions on motor vehicles, federal lemon laws are often more consumer-friendly than state laws.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Uniform Commercial Code are two fundamental federal laws that protect consumers who have purchased defective products, including vehicles made by GMC.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act covers consumers who’ve purchased products with a written warranty and that cost more than twenty-five dollars. The Act protects consumers from unfair warranty agreements. The act also allows consumers to recoup attorney’s fees, making it easier for consumers to take legal action against manufacturers for warranty issues.
The Uniform Commercial Code gives consumers the right to a refund or replacement of defective products sold in the United States. This is also known as a “lemon law.” However, the UCC does not define what constitutes a “lemon,” so hiring an attorney with specific experience handling these cases is often crucial to helping you get what you’re entitled to under the law.
What Rights Do I Have Under California’s Lemon Law?
California has its own lemon law that protects consumers struggling with vehicles with substantial defects that the manufacturer cannot repair, even after a reasonable number of requests, ensuring their lemon law rights.
The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the Tanner Consumer Protection Act protect consumers in California.
Lawmakers enacted the California Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Song-Beverly Act) in 1970 to protect consumers when purchasing goods. The Act includes:
- Protections for buyers to take advantage of express warranties provided with the goods they purchase.
- Requirements that every retail sale in California will have specific implied warranties and strict limits on disclaimers.
- Legal remedies for consumers if a product is damaged and the manufacturer fails to comply with a Song-Beverly Act obligation or an express or implied warranty. These remedies could include damages, equitable relief, civil penalties, and the recovery of litigation costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.
The Tanner Consumer Protection Act is much more limited in scope. It only covers consumers when repair attempts have failed, and the vehicle was purchased in the last 18 months and has been driven no more than 18,000 miles.
What vehicles are covered by the California lemon law?
California’s lemon law covers vehicles that are:
Sold or leased with the manufacturer’s new vehicle warranty
- Used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. Or vehicles with a gross vehicle weight under 10,000 pounds purchased for work by a person or business with no more than five registered motor vehicles in California
- Purchased or leased in California or by a full-time active-duty member of the Armed Forces who was stationed or residing in California at the time of purchase or lease or at the time the claim is filed
- Not designed for human habitation (motor homes), motorcycles, or vehicles operated exclusively off highways and not registered under the California Vehicle Code
Who is covered by the California lemon law?
Under California law, a “consumer” is defined as:
- An individual who buys or leases a new motor vehicle from an entity involved in the manufacturing, distribution, sales, or leasing of new motor vehicles
- A lessee with a four-month (or longer agreement)
- Any individual entitled to warranty protections under California law
What are the grounds for a GMC lemon lawsuit under the California lemon law?
Under California’s lemon law, GMC or its representative in California might be required to repurchase or replace your vehicle if the company cannot fix (after a reasonable number of attempts) a defect or malfunction that:
- Is covered by GMC’s new vehicle warranty
- Substantially impacts the consumer’s use, value, or safety of the vehicle
- Was not caused by the unauthorized or unreasonable use of the vehicle (after the sale)
What is considered a “reasonable” number of repair attempts?
While California law does not conclusively establish the definition of “reasonable,” it is presumed that if, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles (whichever comes first), the vehicle has been taken in for repair:
- Four or more times for the same problem or two or more times for a problem that could result in death or serious injury, and is still not fixed or,
- If the vehicle has been out of service for repair for more than 30 days (not necessarily in a row) and the manufacturer has been notified about the problem as required by the warranty
What are my options if my GMC vehicle is a lemon?
If GMC cannot repair the defect, the company must repurchase it or replace it. Under California lemon law, you could choose a refund instead of a replacement. If you believe you might qualify for relief under California lemon law, you should contact an experienced GMC lemon law attorney right away.
What should I bring to my first meeting with a lawyer if I have a Lemon Law claim?
When meeting with a lemon law Lawyer for the first time, you should bring all the relevant documents or evidence that will support your case. This could include:
- The purchase or lease agreement – Your lawyer could review your agreement and determine the terms of your warranty and any other relevant details.
- Repair records – Show your lawyer any records and receipts from the dealership or repair shop. This could include invoices, receipts, and service reports, and this documentation could help your lawyer understand the repair history for your vehicle.
- Dealership or manufacturer correspondence – If you’ve communicated with the dealer or manufacturer about your vehicle’s problems, bring this to your consultation. Don’t forget to include emails, letters, and records of phone calls made or received.
- Warranty documents – Bring a copy of your vehicle’s warranty so your lawyer can review the terms and what repairs it covers.
- Vehicle information – Bring your vehicle registration and insurance documents to your first meeting. Your lawyer can use this information to verify your vehicle’s information and ensure it meets the coverage requirements under state and federal lemon laws.
- Personal notes – It would be helpful to take and bring notes regarding the problems you’ve had with your GMC vehicle. This includes descriptions of the issues and the dates and times they occurred.
Why Choose Conn Law, P.C. for My Lemon Law Claim?
If you own or are leasing a GMC vehicle that you believe might be a lemon and you are wondering if you have a lemon law case, contact San Francisco GMC lemon attorney at Conn Law, PC, for the qualified legal representation you need and deserve. Our lemon law firm is committed to protecting consumers, and we’ll be ready to put our extensive experience to work on your case. We hold ourselves to the highest standards, which means we’ll always look to secure the best possible outcome for your case.
We represent clients on a contingency-fee basis, so you won’t have to pay us anything until we win your case. It also means that our interests are aligned. We won’t get paid until you get paid. For a 100% free consultation to discuss your GMC lemon claim, contact us by phone at (877) 421-9759 or reach out to us using our contact page.