Buying a new or used vehicle is a major investment. When that vehicle turns out to be defective, consumers often feel frustrated and powerless. Fortunately, there are legal protections in place to help. While California’s lemon law is well known for helping car buyers, there’s a lesser-known but powerful federal warranty law that also comes into play: the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Understanding how this law works and how it complements California’s lemon law can make all the difference if you’re dealing with a faulty vehicle.
What Is the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act?
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a federal warranty law passed in 1975 to protect consumers from deceptive warranty practices and to ensure manufacturers honor their guarantees. The law applies to any product that costs more than $25 and comes with a written warranty, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and motorcycles.
In simple terms, the Act ensures that when manufacturers or dealers offer written warranties, those warranties must be clear, understandable, and enforceable. If they fail to honor them, consumers have the right to take legal action—often with the possibility of recovering attorney fees.
How Does It Apply to Car Buyers?
When you buy a car—new or used—that comes with a written warranty, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act gives you legal standing to hold the manufacturer or seller accountable if the vehicle doesn’t perform as promised.
Here’s how the Act protects car buyers:
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Enforces Written Warranties: If your car is still under the manufacturer’s warranty and keeps having issues that aren’t properly repaired, this law allows you to pursue legal remedies.
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Covers Used Vehicles: If you purchase a used car with a written warranty or extended service contract, the protections still apply.
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Attorney Fees Can Be Recovered: If you win your case, the manufacturer may have to pay your attorney fees. This makes legal action more accessible to consumers.
How It Works With California’s Lemon Law
California’s lemon law is one of the strongest in the country. It applies when a new or certified pre-owned vehicle has a substantial defect that isn’t fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts.
However, not all cases qualify under California’s lemon law. That’s where the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act fills in the gaps. Here’s how they complement each other:
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Broader Coverage: The Magnuson-Moss Act can apply even when state lemon laws don’t. For example, if your car is slightly outside the lemon law mileage or time limits but still under warranty, the federal law might still offer protection.
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Used Car Protections: California’s lemon law doesn’t always cover used vehicles unless they were sold with a warranty. But if a used car does have a written warranty or a service contract, the Magnuson-Moss Act kicks in.
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Additional Leverage: Filing under both laws increases pressure on the manufacturer or dealer to settle or resolve the issue quickly.
Key Provisions of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
To understand your rights, it helps to know some of the key provisions of the law:
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Disclosure Requirements: Warranties must be clearly written and labeled as either “full” or “limited.” This gives consumers a better understanding of what is and isn’t covered.
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Repair Obligations: If a warrantor can’t fix the defect after a reasonable number of tries, they must replace the product or refund the buyer.
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Legal Remedies: Consumers can sue in either state or federal court and may be awarded damages, including court costs and attorney fees.
These provisions put real teeth behind your warranty and ensure that manufacturers can’t offer vague promises without consequences.
Why This Matters for California Car Owners
Even with California’s strong lemon law, many cases don’t meet the strict criteria for a lemon law claim. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck.
Let’s say you bought a car that’s still under warranty, and it keeps having transmission issues. The dealer has tried to fix it three times, but the problem persists. The car doesn’t quite meet the lemon law requirements, but it’s clearly defective. In this case, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act may still allow you to seek compensation or a refund.
The Act also protects you from dealers who refuse to make repairs, delay service, or deny warranty coverage without a valid reason. If your vehicle spends too much time in the shop or keeps breaking down, you have legal options.
What to Do If You Think You Have a Claim
If your car is having repeated issues and it’s still under warranty, here are steps you can take:
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Document Everything: Keep detailed records of every repair attempt, including dates, mileage, and descriptions of the issue.
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Review Your Warranty: Check what’s covered and how long your protection lasts.
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Contact the Dealer or Manufacturer: Try to resolve the issue through normal channels first.
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Talk to a Lemon Law Attorney: If you’re not getting anywhere, legal help can make a big difference. An attorney can evaluate your situation under both state and federal laws.
Get a Free Case Review From Seven Law
At Seven Law, we specialize in helping California drivers get the justice they deserve. Whether your vehicle qualifies under California’s lemon law or you need to pursue lemon law federal protections through the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, we can help you understand your rights and fight for what you’re owed.
Don’t wait while your car sits in the shop. Contact Seven Law today for a free case review. Let us help you hold manufacturers accountable and get you back on the road with confidence.