California Hyundai Lemon Law Attorney

California Lawyer Helping with Hyundai Lemon Claims

Hyundais have earned a reputation for being affordable and dependable vehicles. The reality is that every car manufacturer could create a defective vehicle. If you’ve driven a Hyundai off the lot only to suffer from a recurring issue that refuses to be repaired, it’s time to talk with a trusted California Hyundai Lemon Law attorney.

Kimberli Zazzi, the founder of Lemon Law Pro, has been admitted to the State Bar of California since 2007 and built her practice around a single focus: holding manufacturers accountable under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.

Instead of dealing with a car that is constantly in and out of the shop, an experienced California Hyundai Lemon Law attorney can help you seek the compensation you deserve. If you purchased a Hyundai with unresolvable issues, an attorney can fight for your consumer rights and help you work through these often confusing and overwhelming legal proceedings.

Contact us today for a free consultation about your lemon.

Hyundai Vehicles and the Basics of California Lemon Law

Under the California Lemon Law, consumers are protected if they have purchased or leased a vehicle with significant and chronic problems. This core protection comes from Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.2, part of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, which requires a manufacturer to repair a vehicle to match its written warranty or, if it cannot, to replace the vehicle or buy it back.

If you’ve purchased or leased a Hyundai under their warranty coverage, and the problems your vehicle is experiencing are affecting its value, use, or safe operation, you are entitled to relief.

According to California’s Lemon Law, you may be able to settle for compensation in the form of a vehicle replacement, a vehicle buyback, or a cash settlement. Hyundai models that are covered under the California Lemon Law include:

• Hyundai Accent
• Hyundai Azera
• Hyundai Elantra
• Hyundai Equus
• Hyundai Excel
• Hyundai Genesis
• Hyundai Ioniq
• Hyundai Kona
• Hyundai Nexo
• Hyundai Palisade
• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
• Hyundai Santa Fe XL
• Hyundai Sonata
• Hyundai Tiburon
• Hyundai Tucson
• Hyundai Venue
• Hyundai Veloster
• Hyundai Veracruz

If you own any of these Hyundai models and have gone through a reasonable number of unsuccessful repairs, it may be time to contact a successful and experienced California Lemon Law attorney. Luckily, the lawyers at Lemon Law Pro are here for you.

How Our California Hyundai Lemon Law Attorneys Build Your Claim

At Lemon Law Pro, our team has over two decades of combined experience fighting for the consumer rights of our statewide clients. We ensure your claim receives the personal care and attention it deserves. We understand the stress of owning a car that is constantly suffering a litany of issues and want to do everything we can to advocate for you.

Kimberli Zazzi has served as lead counsel on more than 1,500 lemon law matters over her career. She started her career at large insurance-defense firms before turning her practice toward representing consumers against those same institutions.

Attorney Vincent Onorio brings nearly four decades of California civil litigation experience to Hyundai lemon law claims, having represented both plaintiffs and defendants over his career, a vantage point that helps the firm anticipate how manufacturer counsel typically approaches these disputes.

Attorney LaDawna Fleckenstein, who is also admitted to practice in North Dakota, previously served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Florida Department of Corrections and as Assistant General Counsel for a Florida regulatory agency before shifting her practice to consumer-side lemon law work in California.

If you are dealing with a lemon, our attorneys are prepared to help get you back on the road safely.

Common Defects in Hyundai Vehicles

Hyundais can come with a multitude of issues. There is no way of knowing when or where chronic flaws may arise, but consumers across the state of California have reported a wide range of defects in their Hyundai vehicles. These have included:

• Check engine lights
• Broken fuel gauge
• Poor acceleration
• Issues with brakes
• Defects in the navigation system
• Improper starting
• Issues with the steering system
• Broken air conditioning or heating
• Rough transmission
• Malfunctions with electrical components
• Doors not locking
• Broken speedometer
• Faulty windshield wipers
• Defective airbags
• Issues with the seatbelts
• Suspension problems
• Malfunctions of the hood latch

If you have experienced any of these chronic flaws in your Hyundai or a combination thereof, it is wise to get help immediately. If you’ve already been in for repairs a reasonable number of times, and the issues have not been permanently addressed, contact our office. The attorneys at Lemon Law Pro are here to help.

What to Do With a Lemon Hyundai?

If you are under the suspicion that your Hyundai vehicle is a lemon, knowing what your next steps are according to the California Lemon Law can be essential to the success of your claim. First and most importantly, you need to bring your vehicle into the dealership for repairs.

Ensure that you save all bills, receipts, and communications with the dealership or manufacturer about these repairs. It is important that you allow Hyundai a reasonable number of attempts to address and fix the recurring issue. There is no real set number that is defined as reasonable. Once the dealership cannot fix the issue after these attempts, it’s time to reach out to a lemon law attorney.

In order to qualify for a claim, it is essential that your vehicle meets the following criteria:

• Your Hyundai’s warranty was still valid when you first reported the defect.
• The Hyundai has at least one, if not more, significant issues that affect its use, value, or safety.
• Hyundai-certified repair techs have attempted repairs a reasonable number of times to correct the issue.
• The defect was not caused by abuse or neglect on the part of the driver, nor was it caused by modifications made with off-market parts.

Each of these elements has to be documented, which is why keeping a full paper trail from the first repair visit forward matters as much as the defect itself.

When a Hyundai Repair History Legally Counts as a Lemon?

California law does not leave “reasonable number of attempts” entirely open to guesswork. Under the Tanner Consumer Protection Act, part of the Song-Beverly Act at Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a Hyundai is presumed to be a lemon if, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles on the odometer, whichever happens first, one of three things occurs.

• The same problem has needed four or more repair attempts.
• A defect likely to cause death or serious injury has needed two or more repair attempts.
• The vehicle has been out of service for repairs for more than 30 cumulative days.

This presumption shifts the burden onto Hyundai to prove the vehicle is not a lemon, rather than leaving the consumer to prove it alone. It is also not the only path to a valid claim.

Vehicles outside the 18-month or 18,000-mile window can still qualify under the general “reasonable number of attempts” standard, so a Hyundai with higher mileage or an older model year is not automatically disqualified.

How the 2025 Changes to California’s Lemon Law Affect a Hyundai Claim

California lawmakers made the biggest procedural changes to the Song-Beverly Act in years through Assembly Bill 1755, signed in September 2024, and Senate Bill 26, signed by Governor Newsom on April 2, 2025.

Together, these laws created a new, optional fast-track procedure for resolving lemon law disputes, including pre-suit written notice requirements and mediation steps, that exists alongside the traditional litigation process that has applied to Song-Beverly claims since 1970.

Under this framework, each vehicle manufacturer chooses whether to opt into the new procedures, and the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Arbitration Certification Program publishes the list of manufacturers who have elected to do so each year. A manufacturer that opts in is bound by the new rules for five years before it can decide again.

This means two Hyundai owners with nearly identical repair histories can end up on different procedural tracks depending on when they bought or leased the vehicle and whether it falls under Hyundai’s opt-in.

Because these rules shifted twice within about six months of each other, a Hyundai lemon law claim benefits from being reviewed by an attorney who can confirm which procedural track actually applies before any notice or demand goes out.

Statute of Limitations for California Lemon Law

Hyundai has opted into California’s newer lemon law procedures. For vehicles covered by that choice, you must file within one year after the written warranty ends. You must also file no later than six years after delivery. For other vehicles, the deadline is generally four years from the date you realized or should have realized your Hyundai was a lemon.

In short, as soon as you discover that your Hyundai is a lemon, begin collecting the necessary paperwork and contact a lawyer before it’s too late and you lose your opportunity to file a claim. An attorney can analyze your case and determine which deadline applies to you.

Each lemon law case is different, and an experienced eye can study all the documentation and evidence in your claim to pursue a fair resolution.

Compensation You May Be Able to Recover

There are several forms that compensation can take in a lemon law case. If your Hyundai vehicle meets the requirements to file a claim, you have the ability to seek compensation for the following:

• The total cost of the vehicle minus a mileage offset
• The official costs of purchasing the vehicle
• All costs incurred due to the defect suffered by the vehicle

Attorney’s fees are also recoverable from the manufacturer when a consumer prevails, which is part of why Lemon Law Pro represents Hyundai owners without charging them directly for the work.

Our Attorneys’ Litigation Record Against California Vehicle Manufacturers

While Lemon Law Pro’s attorneys handle claims against Hyundai and every other manufacturer selling vehicles in California, their litigation history gives a sense of how the firm handles a case that does not resolve quickly. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any Hyundai matter, since every vehicle’s repair history and warranty terms are different.

FAQs

Can I Pursue a Lemon Law Claim for My Hyundai If I Bought It Used or as a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle?

It depends. If you bought a certified pre-owned Hyundai that came with a new Hyundai warranty at the time of sale, you may have a claim. Most other used Hyundais do not qualify for a buyback or replacement, even if some of the factory warranty is left. An attorney can review your sale papers.

What Is a Lemon Law Buyback in California?

In California, a lemon law buyback happens when a car manufacturer must repurchase a vehicle that has been legally labeled a lemon. In these situations, the car company is also accountable for paying off any balance on any outstanding leases or loans on the vehicle.

Can I Still Pursue a Lemon Law Claim If My Hyundai Was Involved in an Accident or Sustained Damage Unrelated to the Alleged Defects?

If an accident caused the problems you are having, you generally cannot pursue a lemon law claim. A past accident does not bar a claim for a defect that has a different cause. Likewise, you generally cannot pursue a claim if abuse, neglect, or off-market parts caused the defect.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lemon Law Lawyer for My Hyundai Case in California?

Under the California Lemon Law, the owner of the defective vehicle can have the car manufacturer pay their attorney and court fees when they prevail. This money can be given in addition to a potential buyback or other monetary recoveries received in the claim.

Do the 2025 AB 1755 and SB 26 Lemon Law Changes Affect My Hyundai Claim?

Yes. Hyundai has opted into the newer procedures created by Assembly Bill 1755 and Senate Bill 26. For vehicles covered by that choice, you generally must send Hyundai a written notice at least 30 days before you sue. A shorter filing deadline also applies. An attorney can confirm which rules apply to your vehicle before you send anything.

What Is the Tanner Act Presumption, and Does My Hyundai Qualify?

The Tanner Consumer Protection Act presumes your Hyundai is a lemon if, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, the same defect needed four or more repair attempts, a safety defect needed two or more attempts, or the vehicle was out of service for more than 30 cumulative days. Falling outside that window does not automatically disqualify your claim.

Is There a Certified Arbitration Program for Hyundai Owners in California?

Hyundai and Genesis vehicles have historically been covered by a state-certified arbitration program, and the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Arbitration Certification Program keeps the current manufacturer list. Arbitration can be a faster alternative to a lawsuit, though consumers are not required to use it and are not bound by an unfavorable arbitration decision in the same way a manufacturer is.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a California Hyundai Lemon Law Attorney Today

If you or someone you know has purchased a Hyundai vehicle with at least one recurring defect, it’s time to file a claim and hold the car manufacturer accountable. As a California consumer, you hold the right to file this claim and seek compensation.

Lemon Law Pro’s attorneys handle every stage of a Hyundai lemon law claim, from gathering repair records to pursuing a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, without charging clients directly for the work. Don’t let a lemon get in the way of your daily life. Reach out today for a free consultation with our California Hyundai Lemon Law attorneys.