RV Lemon Law in Los Angeles

Jury-Trial Experience in RV Lemon Law Claims Across Los Angeles County

Recreational vehicles represent some of the largest purchases California consumers make, and when persistent defects make them unusable or unsafe, the stakes are considerably higher than a standard car claim. At The Bravo Law Firm, we bring actual jury-trial experience in breach-of-warranty litigation to RV claims, which matters when manufacturers push back rather than settle. We represent Los Angeles County owners of motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth wheels under California’s lemon law.

Nicholas Bravo has contributed to four published opinions in the California Court of Appeal and two published opinions in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and has been accepted by the California Supreme Court as Amici Curiae. In our first year in business, we recovered more than $1,000,000 in lemon law damages for clients. Nicholas Bravo secured a jury verdict after a six-day trial at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in a breach-of-warranty case, winning nearly $73,000 for the client. That courtroom record gives manufacturers a reason to resolve claims fairly rather than stall.

If your RV has a recurring defect that multiple repair attempts haven’t fixed, contact us today for a free case review. Call (424) 262-1000 to speak with our team.

How California’s Song-Beverly Act Covers RVs

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act covers recreational vehicles when a qualifying defect falls under the manufacturer’s written warranty. What makes RV claims distinct is the dual-warranty structure most of these vehicles carry. The chassis and drivetrain are typically warranted by one manufacturer, such as Ford, Freightliner, or Mercedes-Benz, while the coach or living-quarters portion is warranted separately by the RV builder, such as Thor, Winnebago, Forest River, or Jayco. Each warranty can support a separate claim.

Coverage generally extends to new motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth wheels, and to used RVs when the manufacturer’s warranty was issued as part of that specific sale, such as with a certified pre-owned unit. Simply having time remaining on the original owner’s warranty isn’t enough to qualify on its own, under the California Supreme Court’s decision in Rodriguez v. FCA US. To qualify, a defect must substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle to you as the buyer or lessee. Separately warranted components like water heaters, refrigeration units, or leveling systems may carry their own manufacturer warranty as well, creating additional avenues for a claim.

Common RV Defects That Support a Claim

Defects that substantially impair an RV’s use, value, or safety can form the basis of a recreational vehicle lemon law claim. Common problems we see include:

• Engine and drivetrain failures covered under the chassis manufacturer’s warranty
• Water intrusion causing interior damage, mold, or structural deterioration
• Electrical system faults affecting lighting, appliances, or safety systems
• Generator failures that leave the vehicle without power
• Slide-out misalignment or failure that blocks access or creates a safety hazard
• Leveling system failures preventing safe, stable parking
• Structural defects in the coach body or frame

Identifying which warrantor is responsible for a specific defect is a critical early step. A chassis problem goes to the chassis manufacturer; a roof leak may fall on the RV builder. We assess both warranties from the start.

Repair Standards, Deadlines, & Available Remedies

California law sets out when a vehicle is presumed to be a lemon under the Tanner Consumer Protection Act (Civil Code Section 1793.22). Within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, a rebuttable presumption arises that a reasonable number of repair attempts has been made if: the same defect has been subject to repair four or more times, two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, or the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days. Outside that window, a fact-based “reasonable number of attempts” standard under Civil Code Section 1793.2 still applies.

Claims generally must be pursued within four years of when you knew or reasonably should have known of the defect, though the exact deadline can shift depending on whether the manufacturer has adopted the warranty procedures added by recent amendments to the Song-Beverly Act. We can walk through your repair history and discuss the applicable deadline during a free case review. Remedies available under the Song-Beverly Act include:

• Vehicle buyback: A refund of the purchase price, less a mileage offset for use before the first repair attempt
• Replacement vehicle: A comparable vehicle in place of the defective one
• Attorney’s fees and costs: Paid by the manufacturer under Civil Code Section 1794(d), not by you
• Civil penalty: Up to two times your actual damages when a manufacturer’s violation is found to be willful under Civil Code Section 1794(c)

Get a Free Review of Your RV Lemon Law Claim

We offer a free case review to assess whether your RV qualifies for lemon law protection. There are no out-of-pocket costs, and we aren’t paid unless we win your case. If you’re a Los Angeles RV owner facing unresolved defects, don’t let another failed repair attempt pass without understanding your options.

Call (424) 262-1000 today to schedule your free case review with The Bravo Law Firm. We can evaluate your repair history and discuss where your claim stands.