Ford vs Chevrolet Lemon Law Problems: What California Owners Report

Published October 19, 2026 · Updated October 19, 2026 · California lemon law

Which has more lemon law problems in California, Ford or Chevrolet?

Side-by-Side Comparison

What California Ford Owners Report to NHTSA

California owners of 2019 to 2027 model year Fords filed 2,013 complaints with NHTSA between 2021 and 2026. The single largest problem area was the transmission and powertrain, with 376 complaints. The electrical system came next with 323, followed closely by the engine with 314.

Two smaller groups stand out for a truck-heavy brand. The fuel and EV propulsion system drew 154 complaints, which makes sense once you see that the Mustang Mach E is one of Ford's most-reported models. Brakes rounded out the top five with 128.

By model, the F-150 led with 239 complaints, then the Explorer (174), the Mustang Mach E (151), the F-250 Super Duty (140) and the Escape (131). That spread covers a full-size pickup, a heavy-duty pickup, a three-row SUV, a compact SUV and an electric crossover, so Ford complaints are not tied to one kind of vehicle.

Most Ford complaints came from the big metro areas: Los Angeles (70), San Diego (62), Sacramento (39), Long Beach (39) and San Jose (30).

• Transmission and powertrain: 376 complaints
• Electrical system: 323 complaints
• Engine: 314 complaints
• Fuel and EV propulsion system: 154 complaints
• Brakes: 128 complaints

What California Chevrolet Owners Report to NHTSA

Chevrolet owners in California filed 996 NHTSA complaints for the same model years and filing period. The electrical system led with 191 complaints, then the engine with 175. Brakes (117) and the transmission and powertrain (113) were close behind, and steering came fifth with 64.

The Silverado 1500 was the most-reported Chevrolet with 191 complaints. The Bolt EV came second with 124, which is notable because it is an electric car competing for attention against pickups and SUVs. The Traverse (89), Tahoe (83) and Equinox (68) filled out the list.

Chevrolet complaints were spread more evenly between Southern and Northern California than you might expect. San Diego had 34 and Los Angeles had 33, then San Jose (16), Sacramento (15) and Bakersfield (13). Bakersfield showing up in the top five fits a market where pickups and large SUVs are everyday work vehicles.

The steering number is worth a second look. Steering is the kind of system where a fault can create a sudden safety risk, which matters a great deal under the lemon law's repair-attempt rules discussed below.

If you drive a Bolt EV, an owner report might describe a charging or battery problem in words that NHTSA files under more than one category. For a lemon law claim, those labels do not matter. What counts is what you told the dealer and what the dealer wrote on your repair orders.

How Transmission, Engine and Electrical Problems Fit the Lemon Law

The top problem areas for both brands are the same three systems in a different order: transmission and powertrain, electrical, and engine. Under the Song-Beverly Act, the question is not which system failed. It is whether a warranty defect that substantially impairs use, value or safety was not fixed after a reasonable number of attempts (Civil Code 1793.2(d)(2)).

Within 18 months or 18,000 miles, a reasonable number of attempts is presumed in three situations (Civil Code 1793.22(b)). A defect likely to cause death or serious injury that was repaired 2 or more times. The same defect repaired 4 or more times. Or more than 30 total days in the shop for warranty repairs.

A transmission that slips, a sudden loss of drive power, or an engine that stalls in traffic can fall into the safety category, which means 2 attempts may be enough. A rough shift that is annoying but not dangerous is more likely to be counted under the 4-attempt or 30-day paths. An electrical fault can go either way: a dead radio screen is different from lost headlights or a dashboard that goes dark at speed.

You do not have to prove the exact technical cause. California courts have held that visits where the dealer could not find or fix the problem can still count. That is why every visit matters, even the ones that end with "could not duplicate."

Bringing a Claim Against Ford Motor Company or General Motors LLC

For a Ford, the company usually named in a California lemon law claim is Ford Motor Company. For a Chevrolet, it is General Motors LLC. The dealer that sold or repaired your vehicle is the manufacturer's repair facility, but the buyback or replacement obligation belongs to the manufacturer.

Both brands repair warranty problems through franchised dealers. That means your repair history is spread across dealer repair orders, and you may have visited more than one dealer. Each repair order should show the date in, the date out, the mileage, your complaint in your own words, and what the technician did.

Read the warranty booklet and owner's manual. If they clearly require you to notify the manufacturer directly, that notice matters for the 2-attempt and 4-attempt presumptions. A short written notice to the manufacturer's customer relations line, with a copy kept for your file, is a simple step that can avoid an argument later.

For manufacturers that opted in, a 2025 law added pre-lawsuit written notice, early document exchange and mediation steps for many claims (Code of Civil Procedure 871.20). An attorney can tell you whether those steps apply to your claim. If you win, the manufacturer pays your attorney fees and costs (Civil Code 1794(d)).

Example: A Silverado 1500 With a Recurring Electrical Fault

This is a made-up example to show how the process works, not a real client. Daniel bought a new Silverado 1500 in Bakersfield and uses it for work during the week. Around 7,000 miles, the gauge cluster started flickering and the truck occasionally lost power to the infotainment screen and backup camera.

The dealer updated software on the first visit. Two months later, the problem came back and the dealer replaced a wiring connector. On the third visit the dealer could not duplicate the issue, and the truck sat for 11 days waiting for a module. By then Daniel had about 22 days of total shop time and three repair orders for the same complaint.

Daniel kept every repair order, wrote down the dates the problem appeared, and took short phone videos of the flickering cluster. He also sent a written notice to General Motors customer care, because the warranty booklet asked owners to contact the manufacturer.

When the problem came back a fourth time, he asked for a free case review. The attorney looked at whether a lost backup camera could be treated as a safety defect, whether the 4-attempt or 30-day path would apply, and what the mileage offset would be based on the miles at the first visit (Civil Code 1793.2(d)(2)(C)).

Why 2,013 vs 996 Does Not Rank Ford or Chevrolet

Ford has roughly twice as many California complaints as Chevrolet in this data. That number alone does not show that one brand is more or less reliable. Raw counts mostly follow how many vehicles of each brand are on California roads and how many model lines each brand sells.

Reporting habits also differ. Owners of new EVs like the Mach E and Bolt EV may be more likely to file online reports. Truck owners who rely on their vehicle for work may report faster when something goes wrong. Some owners never file with NHTSA at all, even when the dealer has seen the car many times.

NHTSA complaints are also not verified defects. They are owner reports. A complaint count is useful for spotting patterns, like which systems owners mention most, but it says nothing about whether your vehicle qualifies. Your own repair orders decide that.

A fairer way to use the data is to look at the share of complaints in each area. For Ford, transmission and powertrain complaints (376) lead. For Chevrolet, the electrical system (191) leads. If your problem matches the area owners mention most, that may help you recognize a pattern, but a less common defect can qualify just as well.

The same caution applies to the city counts. Los Angeles and San Diego top both lists mostly because more people live and drive there. A Ford owner in Long Beach or a Chevrolet owner in Bakersfield has exactly the same rights as anyone else in the state.

Documents to Gather Before You Call

Whether you drive a Ford or a Chevrolet, the paperwork that builds a claim is the same. Pull it together before your free case review so the attorney can count attempts and days out of service quickly.

Claims are time-sensitive. Warranty claims generally must be filed within four years (Commercial Code 2725), and the timing rules are technical, so it is better to ask early. Keep making your loan or lease payments while the claim is open.

If a defect is unsafe, you can also report it to NHTSA yourself. Your report adds to the public record, and the confirmation is one more dated document showing when the problem was happening. It does not replace a repair visit, so keep taking the vehicle to the dealer each time the problem returns.

• Purchase or lease contract, including any add-ons and trade-in paperwork
• Every repair order, including visits where the dealer found nothing
• Any written notice you sent to Ford Motor Company or General Motors LLC
• Rental, towing and out-of-pocket repair receipts
• Photos, videos or notes showing when the problem happens
• Any recall notices you received (check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls)

Signs Your Ford May Qualify

• Your Ford has been in for the transmission and powertrain 2 or more times and it is a safety issue
• The same Ford problem has been repaired 4 or more times
• Your Ford has been out of service more than 30 days for warranty repairs
• You own a Ford F-150 and the problem keeps coming back

Signs Your Chevrolet May Qualify

• Your Chevrolet has been in for the electrical system 2 or more times and it is a safety issue
• The same Chevrolet problem has been repaired 4 or more times
• Your Chevrolet has been out of service more than 30 days for warranty repairs
• You own a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and the problem keeps coming back

Key Facts (as of October 2026)

• Complaint counts are California owner reports to NHTSA for 2019 to 2027 model years, filed 2021 to 2026. They are not verified defects and are not adjusted for sales.
• Both brands' most-reported areas include the electrical system.
• For either brand, a reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed within 18 months or 18,000 miles after 2 tries for a serious safety defect, 4 tries for the same defect, or more than 30 days in the shop (Civil Code 1793.22(b)).

Talk It Through With a Lemon Law Attorney

Every case is different. Our attorneys, listed in firm order: #1 Jacob Shayesteh (founding attorney), #2 Armig Khodanian and #3 Kamau Edwards, will look at your repair history and tell you which option fits. 5.0 stars on Google from 77 reviews (October 2026). You pay $0, win or lose.

What Our Clients Say on Google

“Although it turned out that my vehicles did not quite meet the legal criteria, the level of service I received was outstanding. He will give you an honest assessment of your situation.”

Nick · VW ID.4 owner · 5-star Google review

“They were incredibly professional, fast, and efficient, taking over all the stressful communication with the manufacturer so I didn't have to. In the end, they secured a full lemon law refund for me, which covered not just the vehicle cost, but all of my registration fees, taxes, and finance charges.”

Aaron K. · 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE · 5-star Google review

“He's extremely knowledgeable when it comes to dealing with service centers and dealerships and making sure they write down the things that are needed for the case.”

Yaira B. · Two Teslas · 5-star Google review

Read all 78 reviews on Google (5.0 stars, October 2026). Reviews describe past clients' experiences; every case is different.

FAQ

Is it harder to win a lemon law case against Ford or Chevrolet?

The law is the same for both. What matters is the defect, how many times it was repaired, how long the car was in the shop, and the paperwork.

What do California Ford owners complain about most?

In NHTSA complaints from California owners, the top areas are the transmission and powertrain, electrical system and engine. The most complaints were for the Ford F-150, Ford Explorer and Ford Mustang Mach E.

What do California Chevrolet owners complain about most?

In NHTSA complaints from California owners, the top areas are the electrical system, engine and brakes. The most complaints were for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Bolt EV and Chevrolet Traverse.

Sources and Official References

• NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
• NHTSA, report a vehicle safety problem
• California Civil Code section 1793.22 (California Legislature)
• California Civil Code section 1793.2 (California Legislature)
• California Code of Civil Procedure section 871.20 (California Legislature)
• California Department of Consumer Affairs: California's Lemon Law Q&A
• California Attorney General: Buying and Maintaining a Car

Laws change. This page reflects California law as of October 2026 and was reviewed by Jacob Shayesteh, Esq.

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Attorney advertising. Wynn Law Group, APC, 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1010, Los Angeles, CA 90024. General information, not legal advice. Results vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.