Hate Your Defective Vehicle?
We help California drivers get compensation from their bad vehicles.
If your car keeps going back to the dealer, stays in the shop for weeks, or never feels truly fixed, we use California lemon law to push back on the manufacturer.
- We review your repair history and warranty story.
- We deal directly with the manufacturer or their lawyers.
- You get a clear plan for buyback, replacement, or cash settlement options.
We routinely review vehicles from brands sold in California, including:
Brand names are for identification only. ZapLemon is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any vehicle manufacturer. We evaluate potential claims based on your repair history and California lemon law, not on the brand alone.
Quick reality check: If your “new” or used car has been in repeatedly for the same problem, or stuck at the dealership for long stretches, that’s exactly the kind of situation California lemon law was written for.
Tell Us What’s Going On With Your Car
Share a few details about your vehicle and repair history. We’ll review your situation under California lemon law.
Takes about 60 seconds. No cost, no obligation.
What We Do in a Free Case Review
A short conversation and your repair paperwork are usually enough to see how your situation fits under California’s lemon law and related warranty rules.
We listen to your vehicle story
You tell us the basics: year, make, model, mileage, and what keeps going wrong. We’ll ask about how many repair visits you’ve had, how long the car has been in the shop, and whether the dealer has ever said “no fix available” or “this is normal.”
We review your repair records
Repair orders often tell a story the dealership doesn’t spell out. We look at concern codes, technician notes, parts replaced, and days out of service to see how your facts line up with California lemon law protections.
We explain your options in plain English
If your case fits, we talk through potential outcomes like buyback, replacement, or a cash settlement. You decide whether to move forward—no pressure and no obligation.
Meet Eleazar D. Kim
Founder and Managing Partner
Eleazar D. Kim is the founder and managing partner of Echelon Law, APC. He represents consumers in state and federal court cases involving product defects, breach of warranty, consumer fraud, and automobile manufacturer misconduct.
His practice focuses on representing consumers in matters involving California lemon law, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and related warranty and fraud actions against automobile manufacturers.
- ✓ Trial attorney in state and federal courts
- ✓ Consumer warranty and product defect litigation
- ✓ Jury verdicts secured for plaintiffs
- ✓ Thousands of clients helped through litigation
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Case results depend on the facts, warranty coverage, repair history, and how the matter resolves.
Explore California Lemon Law Resources
Use these guides to understand the main issues that can affect a lemon law claim: the law, the paperwork, the repair timeline, the vehicle type, the manufacturer, and the specific defect pattern.
California Lemon Law Guide
Start here for requirements, timelines, repair attempts, and claim basics.
Buybacks & Compensation
Learn about buybacks, replacements, mileage deductions, loan balances, and settlements.
Parts Backorders & Repair Delays
For unavailable parts, long repair delays, and cars stuck at the dealership.
Days Out of Service
Track shop time and see how extended repair stays may affect a claim.
Dealer & Manufacturer Issues
Goodwill repairs, warranty denials, manufacturer responses, and dealer paperwork issues.
Evidence & Documentation
Repair orders, service records, photos, messages, and proof that helps show the pattern.
Covered Vehicle Types
New, used, leased, certified pre-owned, EV, hybrid, and business vehicles.
Common Vehicle Defects
Engine, transmission, electrical, safety, water leak, noise, and software problems.
Warranty Coverage
Manufacturer warranty, certified warranty, extended warranty, and coverage questions.
Special Situations
Rebuilt titles, auction purchases, out-of-state purchases, private sellers, and edge cases.
By Manufacturer
Manufacturer-specific lemon law pages for brands sold in California.
FAQ & Resources
Short answers, checklists, definitions, and consumer resources.
Do I Have a Lemon?
You don’t have to speak “mechanic” to know something’s wrong. These kinds of problems often signal a lemon law case when they keep coming back.
Instead of guessing, send us your repair orders. We’ll look at the pattern and tell you how your facts fit California lemon law.
Why Drivers Use ZapLemon
Built around California lemon law and real-world repair histories, not generic one-size-fits-all claims.
Lemon law is the core, not the side project
We focus on California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and related warranty laws, so the attention stays on manufacturer defects, warranty language, and what your paperwork actually shows.
We speak “dealer” and “manufacturer”
Warranty codes, repair notes, and service bulletins often tell a story the manufacturer would rather soft-pedal. We use that paper trail to press your claim.
No cost to you, manufacturers pay attorney fees
California’s lemon law is generally fee-shifting. That means we typically seek attorney fees from the manufacturer when a qualifying case resolves, instead of billing you by the hour.
Handle everything from your phone
From uploads and signatures to meetings, most things can be done by phone, Zoom, and secure electronic forms, so you don’t have to rearrange your life to pursue your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions most drivers ask before they reach out.
The review is free. If we take your case, California lemon law is generally fee-shifting, so we typically seek attorney’s fees from the manufacturer in a qualifying case instead of billing you by the hour.
In a qualifying case, we typically pursue attorney fees from the manufacturer under California’s fee-shifting lemon law rules. Whether fees are recovered depends on the facts and how the matter resolves.
Yes, many do. If there’s qualifying warranty coverage and repeated repair attempts or long days out of service, it’s often worth having your paperwork reviewed, even for used or leased cars.
Not really. California law looks at things like how serious the defect is, how often the car has been in, and how long it’s been out of service. We look at the pattern, not just a single visit.
Usually no. If your case qualifies, we negotiate for a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement. You’ll have a chance to understand the options and timing before any resolution is finalized.
After you send your information, we review your details and reach out to talk through how your facts fit California lemon law and what the next step could look like.
Ready to See If Your Car Qualifies?
Send us your repair history or call. We’ll review your situation under California lemon law. In a qualifying case, we typically seek attorney fees from the manufacturer.