Guide
California's presumption (Civil Code §1793.22(b)) is met inside the first 18 months or 18,000 miles after delivery when any one of these happens: the same defect is taken in 4 or more times; a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury is taken in 2 or more times and you directly notified the manufacturer at least once; or the vehicle spends more than 30 cumulative days in the shop for warranty repairs.
The Attorney General's own caveat belongs on every California page: the presumption is a guide, not an absolute rule. A car can qualify outside these numbers, and hitting them does not end the argument — it starts it from a much stronger position.
What changed in 2025: AB 1755 (as amended by SB 26) split California into two procedural tracks based on whether your manufacturer opted in. The presumption numbers did not change. Your deadline, your notice rules, and your penalty rights did. The checker decides your track from the official roster.
The repair-log tracker, your state's notice letter, the buyback worksheet, and your deadline calendar.
Information, not legal advice. Checked October 23, 2026.