Leasing doesn’t put you outside the protection of California’s Lemon Law. If your leased car, truck, SUV, or EV keeps going back to the shop for the same problem—or spends long stretches out of service—you may have rights under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Below, ZapLemon explains how California Lemon Law applies to leases and what practical steps lessees can take to protect themselves when defects won’t go away.
How California Lemon Law Applies to Leases
California’s Lemon Law generally covers leased vehicles when they’re delivered in California with the manufacturer’s new vehicle warranty, and used primarily for personal, family, or household use. In many situations, certain small-business leases may also be eligible, depending on factors like gross vehicle weight and fleet size. The key is the manufacturer’s warranty: if your lease is still under an express warranty and the vehicle has a defect that substantially impairs use, value, or safety, the law may offer remedies after a reasonable number of repair attempts.
What counts as a “reasonable number” depends on the facts, but California’s “lemon law presumption” offers helpful guideposts within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles from delivery—whichever comes first. For example, two or more repair attempts for a defect that could cause serious injury or death, four or more attempts for other substantial defects, or 30 or more cumulative days out of service for warranty repairs may trigger the presumption. You can still have a valid lemon claim outside those milestones; they’re just not presumed.
Remedies for leased lemons work a bit differently than for purchases. In a repurchase (often called a buyback), the manufacturer typically pays off the remaining lease balance and refunds items like your down payment, monthly payments already made, registration, and certain incidental expenses, minus a mileage offset as allowed by law. A replacement vehicle can also be an option in some cases. Every case is fact-specific, and paperwork—such as your lease agreement, warranty booklet, and repair orders—plays a major role in evaluating your rights and potential remedies.
Common Lease Defects, Repairs, and Warranty Tips
Leased vehicles can experience the same recurring defects as purchased cars. Common examples include transmission shuddering or harsh shifts, engine stalling or rough idle, EV battery range loss or repeated charging faults, brake system vibrations, steering rack noise or pull, repeated check-engine lights, coolant or oil leaks, HVAC failures, water leaks and moldy odors, malfunctioning infotainment or backup cameras, and driver-assistance (ADAS) glitches like phantom braking or lane-keep malfunctions. If a defect substantially impairs use, value, or safety—and the dealer can’t fix it after reasonable attempts—it may qualify under California’s Lemon Law.
Because most leases require dealer-performed warranty repairs, always return to an authorized dealership and describe symptoms the same way each time. Ask the service advisor to document your concerns in detail and include “customer states” language on the repair order, especially when the problem is intermittent. Before leaving the service drive, review the repair invoice to confirm the dates in and out, mileage, the diagnostic steps taken, parts replaced, and any test drives—complete records help establish repeat attempts and days out of service.
A few practical tips can make a big difference. Keep a dedicated folder (digital or paper) with all repair orders, towing receipts, rental or rideshare expenses, and communications with the dealer or manufacturer. Check your warranty booklet to confirm coverage and follow any instructions about promptly reporting issues. Don’t stop making lease payments without speaking to a professional—missed payments can affect credit and complicate your options. If problems persist, consider contacting the manufacturer’s customer relations line in addition to working with your dealer, and reach out to a lemon law team like ZapLemon to review your timeline and documentation.
This overview is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney–client relationship, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. If you believe your vehicle may qualify as a lemon, contact ZapLemon at [phone number] or [website] to request a consultation and get help understanding your options under California law.