California Ram Lemon Law Attorney

Yes. Every Ram sold or leased in California with a manufacturer's written warranty still in effect is covered by the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. That includes the Ram 1500, 1500 Classic, 2500, and 3500 Heavy Duty, and the ProMaster and ProMaster City vans. New, used-with-warranty, and certified pre-owned Rams all qualify, whether purchased, financed, or leased.

The 5.7L HEMI V8 in the Ram 1500 has a widely reported 'HEMI tick' tied to lifter and camshaft wear in the Multi-Displacement System (cylinder deactivation). Symptoms include a ticking or tapping noise, misfires, and loss of power, and repairs frequently require lifter and camshaft replacement. Repeated failed repairs on the same engine noise qualify as a substantial impairment under California lemon law.

The 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 in the Ram 1500 has drawn complaints involving the high-pressure (CP4) fuel pump, EGR cooler, oil cooler, and emissions system, some of which can cause stalling, no-start conditions, or expensive fuel-system damage. When a dealer cannot resolve a stalling or fuel-system defect after a reasonable number of attempts, it substantially impairs use or safety and qualifies under the Song-Beverly Act.

'Death wobble' is a violent front-end shaking that can occur on Ram 2500 and 3500 solid-front-axle trucks after hitting a bump at highway speed. It is a steering and suspension defect that creates a substantial safety risk. When the dealer cannot permanently resolve the wobble after repeated attempts, the two-attempt safety threshold under California Civil Code §1793.22 applies.

They can be. Ram, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles have a documented history of Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) and related electrical faults that cause stalling, no-start conditions, random warning lights, and accessory failures. Stalling and no-start conditions are safety-related, and recurring electrical defects the dealer cannot resolve qualify under California lemon law.

Two attempts for a defect that creates a substantial risk of death or serious injury (death wobble, stalling, no-start, sudden loss of power), four attempts for a non-safety defect that substantially impairs use or value (HEMI tick, 8-speed shift quality, Uconnect faults), or 30 or more cumulative days out of service for warranty repair within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles. Meeting any one presumption is enough.

Yes. A recall does not preempt your lemon law rights. If the recall remedy fails to fix the defect, those repair attempts count toward the lemon law threshold, and an engine or transmission replacement on a near-new truck is itself a substantial impairment of value. Many Ram owners pursue both the recall remedy and a separate Song-Beverly claim, because the recall fix does not compensate for diminished value or lost use.

Three remedies are available: a full repurchase at the original purchase price (minus a statutory mileage offset based on miles driven before the first failed repair attempt), a comparable replacement Ram, or a cash settlement that compensates for diminished value while you keep the vehicle. California's Song-Beverly Act also authorizes a civil penalty of up to two times actual damages when the manufacturer willfully failed to honor its warranty, and Ram (Stellantis) pays attorney fees on successful claims.