Under California’s Lemon Law (a section in the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act), a lemon is any vehicle that is presented for repair to an authorized dealership at least two or more times for the issue (unless no more than one repair is possible). Even if the vehicle is presented to the dealer for regular maintenance, such as an oil change, and the dealer performs a recall in the form of a “computer reflash” on, for instance, a transmission, this constitutes a “repair attempt.” So, the only duty on the consumer is to present it to the dealer.

Also, the consumer does not have to tell the dealer what may be wrong with the vehicle; simply explaining that the car is making loud or strange noises or the fact it doesn’t shift properly is sufficient.