My New Car Keeps Having Problems — What Should I Do?
What’s the Problem
Buying a new car should mean peace of mind — not repeated trips back to the dealership. Yet many owners find their brand-new vehicles developing persistent issues: warning lights that won’t go away, transmissions that jerk or hesitate, or electronics that fail weeks after purchase.
Even when a dealer says “it’s fixed,” the same defect often returns. When this happens, your car may qualify as a “lemon” under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, especially if the problem affects safety, reliability, or value.
If your new car keeps having problems, you may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation — but the process depends on documentation and timing.
What is the California Lemon Law?
Under the California Lemon Law, a vehicle may qualify as a “lemon” when:
The defect substantially impairs use, value, or safety.
The manufacturer or dealer has had a reasonable number of repair attempts to fix it.
The issues occur within the warranty period or within 18 months/18,000 miles of purchase (whichever comes first).
Many new car owners report repeated failures involving:
Engine performance issues (stalling, oil leaks, warning lights)
Transmission problems (harsh shifting, hesitation, or total failure)
Electrical defects (infotainment freezing, cameras or sensors malfunctioning)
Brake or steering system concerns (vibrations, pulling, or loss of control)
Even a single safety-related failure — such as sudden power loss, brake failure, or steering malfunction — can qualify under California’s lemon law if the issue remains unresolved.
Recall / TSB
Some new-vehicle defects eventually lead to Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) or recalls. A TSB often signals that the manufacturer has identified a recurring issue, even if it’s not yet part of an official recall.
If your dealer performs TSB repairs but the problem persists, that documentation can strongly support a lemon law claim. Keep every repair order and note any software updates or part replacements related to your issue.
Symptoms
Common signs your new car might be a lemon include:
The same warning lights return after each repair.
The vehicle has been in the shop more than four times for the same issue.
Your car has been out of service for 30 days or more in total.
Repairs temporarily “fix” the issue, but the problem always comes back.
The dealer dismisses your complaints or says “we can’t replicate the issue.”
If any of these sound familiar, you should begin tracking your repair history immediately and contact a lemon law attorney, like Valero Law.
How to Proceed
Document Issues: Keep detailed records of all repairs and communications with the manufacturer. While at the dealership, ensure that all your complaints are noted in the work order that you receive when you first drop off your vehicle.
Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts: While the law doesn’t specify an exact number, generally, if the same problem persists after four or more repair attempts, or if the vehicle is out of service for more than 30 days cumulatively, it may qualify as a “lemon.”
Monitor Symptoms: Any new engine noises, warning lights, or loss of power? Stop driving immediately, seek inspection, and let the dealership know.
Talk to a Lemon Law Attorney, like Valero Law: If repairs fail, or if you experience repeated issues, you may be entitled to relief under California law. Remedies can include a repurchase of the vehicle or a cash settlement.
Call Valero Law
If your new car keeps having problems and the dealer hasn’t fixed them after multiple visits, you don’t have to live with a lemon.
California’s Lemon Law is designed to protect consumers like you — and at Valero Law, APC, we help clients throughout the state pursue compensation from major automakers when new vehicles don’t perform as promised.
Call Valero Law, APC at (424) 299-4447 or complete our free Lemon Law case evaluation form today. There’s no cost to you — we only get paid if we recover for you.