Key Takeaways
- Ojai residents with defective 2020+ model year vehicles may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement.
- AB 1755 (eff. January 1, 2025) added procedural requirements — missing a deadline can jeopardize your claim.
- Derek Johnson and Jonathan Buxton are former automaker defense attorneys — they know every tactic manufacturers use to fight claims.
- Our main office in Ventura is about 19 miles by road from central Ojai, via US-101 and CA-33.
Johnson & Buxton’s main office is at 3585 Maple Street, Suite 126, Ventura, CA 93003 — about 19 miles by road from central Ojai, via US-101 and CA-33. We handle lemon law claims statewide, in all 58 California counties.
If you’re a Ojai driver dealing with a defective vehicle, don’t wait. Contact Johnson & Buxton today for a no-obligation consultation. No out-of-pocket fees.
California’s Lemon Law: What Ojai Residents Need to Know
California’s lemon law — formally called the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) — is one of the strongest consumer protection statutes in the country. It requires vehicle manufacturers to repurchase or replace a vehicle that cannot be repaired within a ‘reasonable number of attempts’ after a defect has substantially impaired the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
Under California law, your vehicle may qualify as a lemon if:
- The same defect has required two or more repair attempts under the manufacturer’s warranty;
- At least one of those repair attempts occurred within the warranty period;
- The defect substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, value, or safety; OR
- The vehicle has been out of service for more than 30 cumulative days due to warranty repairs.
The manufacturer is also legally required to cover your attorney fees if you prevail.
Learn more on our California Lemon Law Overview and our Consumer’s Guide to Lemon Law.
AB 1755: Critical 2025 Changes That Ojai Drivers Must Know
AB 1755, effective January 1, 2025, introduced significant procedural changes to California’s lemon law process. For Ojai drivers, these changes are not administrative details — they directly affect your ability to successfully pursue a claim.
Key changes under AB 1755 include:
- Updated eligibility provisions: Certain provisions now focus on 2020 and newer model year vehicles. If your vehicle is 2020+ and has recurring unresolved defects, you are generally within the scope of current California lemon law protections.
- Tighter timelines: The shortened procedural timeline makes it more important than ever to consult an attorney as soon as you identify a persistent defect.
Johnson & Buxton are fully current on all AB 1755 requirements. When you hire us, we handle all procedural compliance and the full claims process — so nothing falls through the cracks. Contact us today before a deadline passes.
What Can You Recover in a California Lemon Law Case?
If your lemon law claim is successful, you may be entitled to:
- Full vehicle buyback: Your down payment, all monthly payments made, registration fees, taxes, and incidental repair costs — minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first warranty repair.
- Comparable replacement vehicle: A new vehicle of equal or greater value.
- Cash settlement: A negotiated amount to resolve the claim without returning the vehicle.
- Loan payoff: If you financed the vehicle, the manufacturer pays off your outstanding loan balance as part of the buyback.
- Civil penalty: If the manufacturer acted willfully in failing to repurchase or replace your vehicle, you may be entitled to a civil penalty of up to two times the actual damages.
- Attorney fees: The manufacturer must pay all attorney fees and legal costs if you prevail.
Learn more about how the process works on our How Does the Buyback Program Work? page. To find out if you qualify, visit our Do I Qualify? page. To see claims by vehicle brand, visit our Manufacturers page.
Turn Your Lemon Into Lemonade
Ojai drivers pay no out-of-pocket fees.
Get Your Case Review → Call 805-342-0555 · No Out-of-Pocket Fees
Why Johnson & Buxton? The Ojai Advantage
Most lemon law attorneys know the law from one side of the table. Attorneys Derek Johnson and Jonathan Buxton know it from both.
Before founding Johnson & Buxton — The Lemon Law Guys, Derek and Jonathan spent years defending major automakers against lemon law claims. They saw firsthand how manufacturers evaluate cases, which arguments they use to deny or minimize claims, and where consumer cases are strongest and weakest. When they switched sides — to represent consumers — they brought that entire body of insider knowledge with them.
That’s why Ojai residents who hire Johnson & Buxton don’t just get lemon law attorneys. They get attorneys who know the manufacturer’s playbook — and how to beat it.
What you get when you hire us:
- No out-of-pocket fees — the manufacturer pays our costs
- A direct line to attorneys with former automaker defense experience
- Full handling of all AB 1755 procedural compliance
- Representation from demand letter through settlement or trial
Meet our attorneys: Derek S. Johnson, Jonathan W. Buxton and Joshua Ullman.
Ventura County Superior Court Information
Hall of Justice — Superior Court of California, County of Ventura
800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009
Lemon law civil claims for Ojai residents are typically filed in the Ventura County Superior Court, which has jurisdiction over all limited and unlimited civil matters in Ventura County. Johnson & Buxton handle all filings and court appearances.
For court locations and hours, visit the Ventura County Superior Court website.
Frequently Asked Questions — Lemon Law in Ojai
The dealer says the problem is ‘within normal operating parameters.’ What can I do?
This is one of the most common manufacturer defense tactics — Johnson & Buxton have used it themselves when they were on the defense side. An objective defect that affects safety, value, or usability doesn’t lose its legal significance because a dealer calls it ‘normal.’ Our attorneys know how to counter this argument.
Does lemon law apply to a truck I use for my small business?
Yes, with conditions. California’s lemon law covers commercial vehicles weighing 10,000 lbs or less, provided the business has five or fewer vehicles registered under its name.
Can I file a claim if I’m still making payments on the vehicle?
Yes. A successful buyback includes the manufacturer paying off your outstanding loan balance. You don’t need to wait until the vehicle is paid off.
What is a mileage offset and how does it affect my recovery?
California law allows manufacturers to deduct a mileage offset from the buyback amount — calculated based on miles driven before the first warranty repair attempt. Johnson & Buxton negotiate to minimize this offset and maximize your total recovery.
Turn Your Lemon Into Lemonade
Ojai drivers pay no out-of-pocket fees.
Get Your Case Review → Call 805-342-0555 · No Out-of-Pocket Fees
Sources & References
Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act — California Civil Code §§ 1790–1795.8
Superior Court of California, County of Ventura — Hall of Justice
Superior Court of California, County of Ventura — Civil Division
OpenStreetMap — driving route, Ventura office to Ojai
California Lemon Law FAQs — Johnson & Buxton
Do I Qualify? — Johnson & Buxton
Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship with Johnson & Buxton — The Lemon Law Guys. For advice specific to your situation, please contact our attorneys directly. California lemon law citations: Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8.