Table of Contents:
- California Lemon Law Explained
- Dodge Vehicles & Performance Issues
- Affected Vehicles & Common Defects
- Filing a Lemon Law Claim
- Repair Attempts Needed To Qualify
- Safety Concerns & Mechanical Failures
- The Dodge Buyback Process
- Providing Legal Representation
- Free Consultation With A Lemon Law Lawyer
- Frequently Asked Questions
Lemon Law Associates specializes in helping owners determine their eligibility for a Dodge lawsuit buyback under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. If you’re a Dodge owner facing recurring mechanical or electrical issues despite multiple repair attempts, you might qualify for a statutory buyback. The law provides essential relief to consumers who have purchased or leased vehicles with significant defects, offering compensation through a replacement vehicle or a full financial repurchase refund. Adherence to state regulations ensures affected drivers aren’t left paying for an automaker’s manufacturing mistakes.
California Lemon Law
The California Lemon Law statute (officially known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act) protects consumers who buy or lease vehicles that fail to meet reasonable quality and safety standards. This law applies to new and used vehicles sold or leased in California that remain covered by a manufacturer’s original express warranty.
If a vehicle cannot be repaired by the manufacturer or its authorized dealerships after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer is legally required to either replace the vehicle or issue a complete repurchase refund. Protecting your consumer rights ensures you are not trapped with an unreliable vehicle.
Pro Tip: The 30-Day Cumulative Out-of-Service Rule
You do not always need 4 separate repair visits for the same defect. If your Dodge vehicle spends a cumulative total of 30 or more days at an authorized FCA/Stellantis dealership for warranty repairs (including waiting on backordered parts), it automatically meets state standard presumptions for a buyback.
Dodge Vehicles & Performance Issues
The Dodge brand offers a wide range of powerful vehicles built for performance. From the muscle-car styling of the Dodge Charger and Challenger to the family-oriented Dodge Durango and Ram truck lineup (formerly under the Dodge umbrella), these vehicles are designed for heavy daily use.
Despite the brand’s popularity, some vehicles manifest severe, uncorrectable defects during the warranty period. In these situations, owners have legal recourse to demand financial compensation and hold the manufacturer accountable.
Affected Vehicles & Common Defects
The scope of affected models spans multiple vehicle years across the FCA/Stellantis lineup, including the 2015-2020 Ram 1500, 2016-2020 Dodge Charger, 2015-2021 Dodge Challenger, and 2017-2020 Dodge Durango. Reported issues frequently include Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) failures, transmission shuddering, lifter ticking, coolant leaks, and unexpected engine stalls.
If your vehicle suffers from persistent defects that the dealership cannot repair, securing a Dodge lawsuit buyback may be your best path to financial recovery. These defects compromise both driver safety and the vehicle’s long-term resale value.
Filing a Lemon Law Claim
Initiating a claim requires systematically documenting every repair visit. Keep detailed invoices showing repair dates, mileage, reported symptoms, and technician notes. To understand payout calculations, read our guide on understanding typical lemon law settlements.
If issues persist, retaining an experienced San Diego lemon law attorney or a lemon law attorney in Los Angeles ensures your claim is properly evaluated and forcefully presented to FCA/Stellantis.
Repair Attempts Needed To Qualify For Lemon Law
To qualify, the vehicle must undergo a “reasonable number” of repair attempts. For severe safety defects (such as erratic braking or sudden engine shutdown), as few as two repair attempts may satisfy the statute. Non-safety defects typically require three to four repair attempts before establishing a lemon law claim.
Pro Tip: Dealership Repair Orders & Auto Fraud
Always review your repair order before leaving the dealership. If the advisor writes “could not duplicate concern” when your vehicle clearly malfunctioned, or if a dealer concealed prior lemon history on a CPO vehicle, you may be facing dealership auto fraud.
Safety Concerns & Mechanical Failures
Safety is the primary consideration when evaluating vehicle non-conformities. Persistent TIPM electrical failures can cause headlights, power steering, or fuel pumps to shut down unexpectedly while driving at high speeds. These dangerous defects put drivers, passengers, and other motorists at risk.
The Dodge Buyback Process
During a formal Dodge lawsuit buyback, the manufacturer is legally required to repurchase your defective vehicle and refund your purchase expenses. Through the lemon law buyback process, FCA/Stellantis must reimburse your down payment, all monthly finance installments, sales tax, and registration fees, minus a statutory usage offset calculated from your mileage at the first repair visit.
Providing Legal Representation
At Lemon Law Associates of California, our trial lawyers bring over 36 years of experience handling FCA/Stellantis warranty claims. We advocate aggressively on your behalf, countering corporate legal tactics designed to minimize your payout.
Pro Tip: The Mandatory Fee-Shifting Provision
Never avoid seeking legal counsel out of concern over legal fees. Under California’s fee-shifting statute, the automaker is legally required to pay all reasonable attorney fees and court costs when your claim is successful. You pay zero out-of-pocket legal fees.
Free Consultation With A Lemon Law Lawyer For Dodge Vehicles
If you own or lease a defective Dodge or Ram vehicle, Contact our legal team today for a free consultation to evaluate your claim and initiate your Dodge lawsuit buyback process without any upfront cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies a Dodge vehicle for a lemon law buyback?
A Dodge qualifies if it exhibits a substantial defect covered by warranty that impairs its use, safety, or value, and the authorized dealership cannot repair it after a reasonable number of attempts or if it spends 30+ cumulative days in the shop.
What is included in an FCA / Stellantis buyback refund?
A buyback includes a refund of your down payment, all monthly finance installments, sales tax, registration fees, and full loan payoff, minus a statutory usage offset based on mileage at the first repair visit.
Do I have to pay out-of-pocket attorney fees for a Dodge buyback claim?
No. Under California’s mandatory fee-shifting statute, FCA / Stellantis is legally required to pay all reasonable attorney fees and court costs when your claim is successful.
Are Ram trucks covered under Dodge lemon law claims?
Yes. Even though Ram separated into a standalone brand in 2009, Ram trucks are manufactured by FCA/Stellantis and are fully covered under California Lemon Law.
Written by Susan A. Yeck
Founder & Lemon Law SpecialistSusan A. Yeck is the founder of Lemon Law Associates of California and a premier California Lemon Law Specialist. With over 36 years of trial experience, Susan has successfully handled more than 1,000 cases—including over 40 trial victories—recovering millions of dollars for consumers statewide. View her professional profiles on Consumer Advocates, Just Great Lawyers, and the State Bar of California.
Our Service Areas
At Lemon Law Associates of California, we are dedicated to protecting consumers across the Golden State. While our main office is rooted in the heart of San Diego, our reach extends far beyond city limits. We proudly offer comprehensive legal services to clients throughout every county in California, ensuring that no matter where you are located, expert representation is just a call away! Contact us today for more information
