Subaru Lemon Law

Recent Subaru lemon law claims in California have most frequently involved 2.5L FB boxer engine oil consumption, head gasket failures, CVT transmission shudder and slipping, the TCU recall on 2019-2020 Ascent and 2020 Outback/Legacy, low-pressure fuel pump failures, and EyeSight false-positive collision warnings. Whether any of these qualifies in your specific case depends on your repair history and warranty status.

California lemon law claims are filed against Subaru of America, Inc. under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. The process typically begins with gathering all repair orders, confirming warranty status, and documenting the defect history. An attorney who focuses on lemon law can evaluate whether your case qualifies.

Subaru's extended CVT warranty is a warranty extension, not a waiver of your lemon law rights. If repairs performed under the extended CVT warranty did not resolve the defect, or if the defect required multiple repair attempts that did not last, you may still have a lemon law claim. Documentation of each repair attempt is essential.

When a lemon law claim is successful under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the manufacturer is responsible for paying the consumer's reasonable attorney fees and costs separately, in addition to the recovery. This means qualified Subaru consumers can pursue representation at no out-of-pocket cost when their case is successful.

CVT shudder, slipping, and jerking have been the subject of Subaru extended warranties and class actions, which is evidence that the manufacturer has acknowledged the defect. If Subaru has been unable to resolve the shudder after multiple repair attempts, even when characterized as normal CVT behavior, it may qualify under California Lemon Law.

In a Subaru lemon law buyback under California law, Subaru of America, Inc. repurchases your vehicle and refunds the purchase price, less a statutory usage fee based on the mileage at the time the defect was first reported. A typical buyback may include reimbursement of payments made, payoff of the remaining loan or lease balance, sales tax, registration fees, finance charges, and documented out-of-pocket costs. Specific amounts depend on the facts of your case.

EyeSight false-positive collision warnings and phantom braking have been the subject of NHTSA investigation and class-action litigation. If your Subaru has experienced repeated EyeSight malfunctions that Subaru has been unable to resolve, the defect may support a California lemon law claim, particularly when the behavior creates a safety hazard.

Timelines vary based on the strength of the documentation, Subaru's response, and whether the case settles or proceeds to litigation. Some cases resolve in a matter of months; others take longer. There is no guaranteed timeline.

Yes. California's Lemon Law covers both purchased and leased Subarus, including Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, so long as the defect appears during the original manufacturer's warranty and the other statutory requirements are met.

Compensation under California's Lemon Law may include a manufacturer buyback, a replacement vehicle, or a cash settlement, depending on the facts of your case. Compensation may also include reimbursement of related expenses, payoff of loan or lease balances, and recovery of attorney fees and costs paid separately by Subaru when the case is successful. There is no guarantee of any particular outcome; results vary based on the facts of each matter.