Start with the records. Repair orders, warranty documents, mileage, and days out of service are more useful than general assumptions about whether a vehicle qualifies.
If your 2024 Land Rover Discovery keeps visiting the service bay for the same issue, you may be wondering whether California’s Lemon Law can help—and how your mileage might change what a buyback is worth. The short answer is that many new vehicles, including luxury SUVs like the Discovery, can qualify if they meet the law’s criteria. But even strong cases can be affected by something called the mileage offset, which reduces a repurchase to reflect the miles you drove before the defect first appeared.
Below, we break down the basics in plain language, using examples that Land Rover owners commonly experience, and explain why keeping good records—especially of repair visits and odometer readings—can make a real difference. This information is general and not legal advice; for guidance about your specific situation, contact ZapLemon for a consultation.
Does CA Lemon Law Cover the 2024 Land Rover Discovery?
California’s Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act) generally covers new vehicles sold or leased in the state that are still under the manufacturer’s warranty. That includes a 2024 Land Rover Discovery, so long as the problem is covered by warranty and substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. The law requires that Land Rover (the manufacturer) has a reasonable number of opportunities to repair the defect, or that the SUV is out of service for an extended time due to repairs.
What counts as a “reasonable number” depends on the facts, but California has a helpful presumption for issues that arise in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more attempts for a serious safety defect, four or more attempts for other defects, or 30 or more total days out of service may trigger it. Even if you are outside that presumption window, you may still have a valid claim if the problems persist under warranty. Many owners report issues such as infotainment freezes, recurring warning lights, suspension faults, coolant leaks, or transmission shudder—any of which can qualify if they meet the legal standard.
To protect your potential claim, keep all repair orders, note the dates and mileage at each visit, and communicate problems clearly with your service advisor. Confirm that repairs are documented as warranty repairs when applicable. If the dealer says “no problem found,” insist that the concern and symptoms are still written on the repair order. These practical steps can support your case later, whether you pursue a repurchase, replacement, or a cash settlement.
How Mileage Offsets May Impact Your Buyback Value
If your 2024 Land Rover Discovery qualifies for a manufacturer repurchase (often called a “buyback”), California applies a mileage offset to account for the use you received before the defect first appeared. The statutory formula is straightforward: the deduction equals the mileage at the first repair attempt for the defect, divided by 120,000, multiplied by the vehicle’s price. Put simply, earlier problems usually mean a smaller deduction; later first-repair mileage leads to a larger one.
For example, if you paid $70,000 and your first documented repair for the qualifying defect occurred at 6,000 miles, the offset is 6,000/120,000 (0.05) × $70,000 = $3,500. If the first repair was at 24,000 miles, the offset would be four times higher—$14,000. That’s why repair timing and good documentation matter. The key mileage is the odometer reading at the first attempt to repair the specific defect that makes the vehicle a lemon, not when you ultimately file a claim or when the issue gets worse.
Mileage can also affect negotiations in scenarios short of a full repurchase. For instance, in a “cash-and-keep” settlement, the manufacturer may argue for a lower payment if the initial repair occurred later in the vehicle’s life. Other dollars may be at stake too—such as incidental expenses like towing or rental costs—depending on your records and the law. Every case is unique, and different outcomes are possible, so it’s wise to speak with counsel who can review your documents, warranty coverage, and timeline.
This article is for information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with ZapLemon, and results depend on your specific facts. Laws can change, and how they apply to your situation may vary.
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Attorney advertising. General information is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. No result is promised or guaranteed.