Two drivers in Glendale can share the same warranty expiration date, the same repair shop, and the same persistent defect. They can still face completely different filing deadlines depending solely on whether their manufacturer elected to participate in a new state program most consumers have never heard of. That disconnect explains the conflicting timelines flooding search results right now, and it matters because missing the wrong deadline kills a valid claim before it starts.
Los Angeles County, which includes Glendale, sees nearly 10% of all civil filings come from lemon law disputes. That caseload surge was one of the direct pressures behind AB 1755, the reform that rewrote how these cases are timed, noticed, and litigated. What actually changed and what didn’t depends entirely on where your manufacturer stands.
How AB 1755 Rewrote California’s Lemon Law Timeline
Governor Newsom signed AB 1755 on September 29, 2024, making the most significant structural changes to California lemon law procedure in years. The law replaced deadlines that had been in place under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, which includes the Tanner Consumer Protection Act as a key provision, for well over a decade.
Before AB 1755, the statute of limitations for most lemon law claims in California was four years, running from the date a consumer discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, that the vehicle’s defect couldn’t be repaired. That discovery-based clock gave consumers meaningful flexibility when defects took time to fully emerge. Now codified at Code of Civil Procedure section 871.21, effective January 1, 2025, the new statute of limitations introduces shorter windows tied to warranty expiration rather than the moment of discovery.
Why the Deadline That Applies to You Depends on an Opt-In List
Here’s where most competing articles get it wrong. AB 1755’s shortened deadlines don’t automatically apply to every manufacturer. Senate Bill 26, signed April 2, 2025, created an opt-in framework that makes the new rules conditional. A manufacturer must affirmatively elect to be governed by AB 1755’s procedures. If it hasn’t, the pre-AB 1755 four-year discovery-based timeline remains in effect for that brand’s vehicles.
For consumers whose manufacturer has opted in, the deadlines shift significantly:
- One-year post-warranty deadline: A claim must be filed within one year after the vehicle’s express warranty expires.
- Six-year absolute cap: No claim can be filed more than six years from the vehicle’s original delivery date, regardless of warranty terms.
- Whichever comes first applies: These two windows run concurrently, so the earlier expiration controls.
If a manufacturer hasn’t opted in, none of those shortened windows apply. Consumers can confirm where their manufacturer stands by checking the list the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Arbitration Certification Program publishes each year by December 15. That list names every manufacturer that has elected into the AB 1755 framework under SB 26. Assuming the new deadlines apply without checking is a real risk, and it cuts both ways: a consumer with an opted-in manufacturer may have far less time than they think, while one whose manufacturer hasn’t opted in still has the broader four-year window.
New Notice & Mediation Requirements Before You Can File Suit
The timeline changes aren’t the only reform. For opted-in manufacturers, AB 1755 also introduced pre-suit procedural requirements that didn’t exist before, effective July 1, 2025.
Pre-Suit Written Notice
Before filing suit seeking civil penalties under Civil Code section 1794, a consumer must send the manufacturer written notice at least 30 days before filing. That notice must include the vehicle identification number, a description of the defect, the full repair history, and a clear demand for repurchase or replacement. Skipping this step or sending an incomplete notice can jeopardize the civil penalty claim.
Manufacturer Response Window
Once the manufacturer receives notice, it has 30 days to respond. If it agrees to a buyback or replacement, the transaction must be completed within 60 days total from the notice date. Manufacturers that miss that completion deadline can face daily delay penalties, which creates real pressure to respond promptly.
Mandatory Mediation
For opted-in manufacturers, mediation becomes mandatory after an answer is filed in litigation. It must occur within 150 days of the answer, and most formal discovery is paused until mediation concludes. This changes how cases develop strategically, particularly for plaintiffs who want to build their evidentiary record early.
Don’t Confuse the Statute of Limitations with the 18-Month Presumption
One of the most common points of confusion in coverage of AB 1755 is treating the statute of limitations and the lemon law presumption as the same rule. They aren’t, and mixing them up leads to bad decisions about whether to file.
The lemon law presumption under Civil Code section 1793.22 applies when a qualifying defect and the repair attempts addressing it occur within the vehicle’s first 18 months in service or the first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. When those conditions are met, the consumer benefits from a legal presumption that the vehicle qualifies as a lemon, shifting some of the burden in the case. Falling outside that window doesn’t bar a claim. It only means the consumer must build the case with other evidence showing the defect substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. The presumption helps prove a vehicle is a lemon; the AB 1755 deadlines control how long someone has to file. The two rules operate on separate tracks.
Where a Glendale Lemon Law Lawsuit Actually Gets Filed
Venue is a practical issue that rarely gets addressed in articles aimed at Glendale-area consumers. The Glendale Courthouse at 600 East Broadway handles only limited civil matters with a $35,000 cap. Most lemon law repurchase and replacement claims exceed that threshold once you account for the vehicle’s purchase price, civil penalties, and attorney fees. Those cases are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, which handles unlimited civil jurisdiction for Los Angeles County, including Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act claims. Filing in the wrong courthouse can result in dismissal or transfer delays that cost weeks of calendar time.
What to Do Before Your Window Closes
Pull your warranty expiration date and check your manufacturer’s opt-in status before assuming any deadline. If your manufacturer is on the DCA Arbitration Certification Program’s opted-in list, the one-year post-warranty and six-year delivery-date windows are your clock. If it isn’t, the four-year discovery rule still applies. Those are two very different situations, and acting on the wrong assumption can leave a valid claim on the table.
If you’re unsure which timeline governs your vehicle, or whether the pre-suit notice requirement applies to your claim, Khachikyan Law Firm - Lemon Busters offers free consultations and handles lemon law cases with no fee unless we win. Call us at (747) 946-5884 to find out which rules apply to your situation.