When you bought your Dodge, you expected the horse power of a Charger, the grit of a Ram 1500, or the versatility of a Durango to carry you from point a to point b. But if your vehicle keeps breaking down, leaving you stranded or stuck at the dealership, you might be dealing with a lemon. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Dodge Lemon Law Attorneys are dedicated to helping California drivers like you reclaim whatโs rightfully yours, a reliable vehicle or fair compensation.
Your Rights Under Californiaโs Lemon Law
Californiaโs Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, better known as the Lemon Law, is your shield against defective vehicles. It protects anyone who buys or leases a new, used, or certified pre-owned Dodge still under Stellantisโs warranty. If your Dodge has serious defects that affect its safety, performance, or value, and the dealership or Stellantis (Dodgeโs parent company) canโt fix it after a fair number of tries, you could be entitled to:
- A full refund, covering your down payment, monthly payments, and related costs (minus a small mileage deduction).
- A replacement vehicle that matches your Dodgeโs value.
- A cash settlement to make up for your hassle and losses.
Dodge and Ram models, especially the Ram 1500, are among the top vehicles cited in lemon claims due to persistent mechanical and safety issues. If your Dodge is letting you down, our attorneys can help you fight back.
Signs Your Dodge Might Be a Lemon
Not every glitch makes your Dodge a lemon, but Californiaโs Lemon Law sets clear benchmarks. Your vehicle may qualify if, during the warranty period (typically 3 years/36,000 miles, or up to 100,000 miles for Dodge powertrain warranties), it meets these conditions:
- Dangerous Defects: Problems like faulty brakes or airbags that could cause injury or death, still unresolved after 2 repair attempts.
- Major Non-Safety Issues: Defects like transmission failures or electrical glitches that hinder performance or value, unfixed after 4 repair attempts.
- Shop Time: Your Dodge spends 30 days or more in the repair shop for warranty issues, even across multiple problems.
- Warranty Active: The issue was reported while the vehicle was under Stellantisโs warranty.
Smart Move: Hang onto every piece of paperworkโrepair orders, invoices, emails, and texts with the dealership. If your Ramโs transmission keeps acting up or your Chargerโs airbags wonโt deploy, those records are your ticket to a strong claim.
Dodge Defects Driving Lemon Law Claims
Dodge vehicles are built for bold performance, but recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls and owner complaints reveal flaws that can turn your ride into a headache. Hereโs what California Dodge owners are reporting in 2024โ2025:
- Brake System Glitches- A 2024 recall hit 317,630 Ram 2500/3500 trucks (2017โ2018) for faulty Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) modules, disabling stability control and increasing crash risks.
- Transmission Troubles- 2019โ2024 Ram 1500 owners complain of rough shifting or power loss in 8-speed transmissions, with a 2024 recall affecting 1.2 million trucks for powertrain control module software flaws.
- Electrical Failures- 2022โ2024 Dodge Chargers and Challengers faced recalls for Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor issues, risking tire blowouts due to undetected low pressure.
- Rearview Camera Blackouts- 272,911 Ram 1500 trucks (2022โ2023) were recalled for software bugs causing rearview cameras to fail, making backing up hazardous.
- Engine Stalls- 2023โ2024 Ram 1500 trucks with 5.7-liter V8 eTorque engines were recalled for software errors causing sudden stalling, a major safety concern.
- Airbag Malfunctions- 2024 Dodge Durango and Ram 1500 models faced recalls for driverโs side airbags that may not deploy in a crash.
- Headlight Failures- 2025 Ram 1500 trucks were recalled for headlight module software errors, causing lights to cut out unexpectedly at night.
These issues donโt just frustrate, they can qualify your Dodge as a lemon if they persist post-repair. Our Dodge Lemon Law attorneys are seeing a spike in cases tied to Ram 1500 brake and transmission failures, reflecting Dodgeโs high sales and defect reports.
The Lemon Law Process for Dodge Owners
Getting relief for your defective Dodge is straightforward with the right guidance. Hereโs how Californiaโs Lemon Law works:
- Report the Problem: Take your Dodge to a Stellantis dealership, describe the defect, and request warranty repairs. Save all documentation.
- Give Stellantis a Shot: The law requires a reasonable number of repair attemptsโ2 for safety issues, 4 for others.
- File Your Claim: If the defect persists, our Lemon Law Attorneys can file a claim against Stellantis, pushing for a refund, replacement, or settlement.
- Get Results: Most claims resolve in 3โ6 months, with Stellantis covering your legal fees if you win, per the Song-Beverly Act.
A 2024 California Supreme Court decision (Niedermeier v. FCA) ensures your refund reflects the full price paid, not reduced by trade-ins or sales, maximizing your recovery.
Deadlines for Dodge Lemon Law Claims
You generally have 4 years from when you discovered (or should have discovered) the defect to file a claim, often starting at delivery. But Assembly Bill 1755, effective April 1, 2025, tightens this to 1 year after warranty expiration or 6 years from delivery, whichever comes first. For a Dodge with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty, that could mean a cutoff at 4 years post-delivery or 6 years total. Stellantis is pushing these shorter timelines to limit claims, so donโt waitโฆlost evidence or missed deadlines can kill your case.
Why Choose a Dodge Lemon Law Attorney?
You might be tempted to handle your lemon law claim yourself to save on costs, and technically, you can. Californiaโs Lemon Law doesnโt require an attorney, and Stellantis might even offer a settlement to avoid court. But hereโs the honest truth: going it alone is a tough, risky path that often leads to less moneyโor no money at all.
Filing a claim involves digging through repair records, warranty fine print, and recall notices, then drafting legal demands that Stellantisโs seasoned lawyers will scrutinize. Youโll need to negotiate with a company thatโs mastered lowball offers, all while juggling deadlines like the 4-year statute of limitations or AB 1755โs new 6-year cap. Miss a step, and your case could collapse.
Most clients tell us itโs not worth the stress, especially when our Dodge Lemon Law Attorneys work on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis. We streamline the process, maximize your payout, and let you focus on getting back on the road.
Recent Dodge Recalls You Need to Know
Stellantisโs 2024โ2025 recalls highlight serious defects:
- October 2024: 129,000 Ram 1500 trucks (2023โ2024) recalled for turn signal failures, increasing collision risks.
- September 2024: 1.2 million Ram 1500 trucks (2019, 2021โ2024) recalled for ABS software issues disabling safety systems.
- January 2025: 44,500 Dodge Hornets recalled for brake pedal failures, a global issue affecting California drivers.
Recalls donโt automatically make your Dodge a lemon, but if repairs fail, youโve got a solid case. Our attorneys stay on top of NHTSA alerts to strengthen your claim.
Donโt WaitโTake Action with West Coast Trial Lawyers
A defective Dodge doesnโt have to be the end of the story. Our Dodge Lemon Law Attorneys have a 97% success rate in lemon law cases, recovering millions for California drivers stuck with faulty Rams, Chargers, and Durangos. With offices across the state, from Los Angeles to Sacramento, weโre ready to fight for you.
Start Today: Call (213) 927-3700 or fill out our quick online form for a free consultation. Let us transform your Dodge lemon into the justice you deserve.
