California's lemon law, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, applies to a Ford the same way it applies to any other new vehicle sold or leased here. If Ford's dealers can't fix a warranty defect that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of your truck or SUV after a reasonable number of tries, Ford Motor Company (not the dealership) has to repurchase or replace it. What differs by brand is the paperwork: Ford's warranty terms, its arbitration program, and its two notice addresses.
This page is for people who bought or leased a new Ford or Lincoln in California and keep returning to the service drive with the same complaint. The general rules on who qualifies and what a lemon law buyback pays are in our California lemon law guide.
Ford and Lincoln warranty coverage
Ford's 2026 Model Year Warranty Guide lists these terms, and each coverage ends at the limit you reach first.
| Coverage | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper to Bumper (Ford) | 3 years / 36,000 miles | Most factory parts, minus listed exclusions |
| Powertrain (Ford) | 5 years / 60,000 miles | Engine, transmission, transfer case, axles |
| Safety restraint system | 5 years / 60,000 miles | Seat belts and air bags |
| Corrosion | 5 years / unlimited miles | Rust-through only |
| Diesel engine | 5 years / 100,000 miles | Listed diesel components |
| Hybrid and electric unique components | 8 years / 100,000 miles | High-voltage battery, inverter, on-board charger |
| EV battery capacity (Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, E-Transit) | 8 years / 100,000 miles | Capacity below 70% of original (65% for chassis cab) |
| Lincoln Bumper to Bumper | 4 years / 50,000 miles | 2026 Lincoln guide |
| Lincoln Powertrain | 6 years / 70,000 miles | 2026 Lincoln guide |
The Ford rows come from the 2026 Ford Warranty Guide, the EV row from Ford's separate 2026 Battery Electric Vehicle Warranty Guide, and the Lincoln rows from the 2026 Lincoln guide. Older model years can differ, so check your own booklet.
Two details matter for California buyers. For new retail sales on or after July 1, 2023 by a California retailer or to a California resident, the guide says the warranty start date and mileage begin no earlier than the day the vehicle is delivered to you. And lemon law protection lasts as long as the express warranty does, so a powertrain problem that first shows up at 41,200 miles may still support a claim even though bumper-to-bumper coverage ended at 36,000.
How Ford handles lemon law claims in California
Ford participates in BBB AUTO LINE, which the Department of Consumer Affairs lists as the state-certified arbitration program for Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Ford RV chassis. It is free, disputes are usually decided within about 40 days, and Ford is bound only if you accept the decision. Ford's guide says that, to the extent a state's lemon law permits, owners must use BBB AUTO LINE before seeking lemon law remedies. California's rule is narrower. You don't have to arbitrate before hiring a lawyer or filing suit, but if Ford told you about the program in writing, you generally must use it before relying on the repair-attempt presumption.
The booklet also gives two separate notice instructions, and owners mix them up:
- Written notice of the defect. To the extent state law allows, Ford requires owners to first send written notice of their defects to Ford Motor Company, Customer Relationship Center, P.O. Box 6248, Dearborn, MI 48126. California's presumption counts this kind of direct notice toward the 2-repair and 4-repair tests when the warranty clearly asks for it.
- California pre-suit notice. At least 30 days before suing for civil penalties, you send Ford your name, VIN, a short repair history, and a demand to repurchase or replace, while you still have the vehicle. It goes to LLNOTICE@ford.com, or by certified or registered mail to Ford's Office of General Counsel, Attn: California LL Notice, One American Road, Dearborn, MI 48126. Ford repeats this in its support article, How do I file for Lemon Law?
That second notice comes from AB 1755. As of October 2026, Ford Motor Company appears on the DCA list of manufacturers that opted in to the newer procedures, with an opt-in date of April 25, 2025. A Ford claim therefore generally runs on the newer track: a 30-day window for Ford to make an offer, early mediation once a case is filed, limited early discovery, and shorter outer limits for filing suit. Which sale years an election reaches can vary, so confirm your deadline early. Our page on the 2025 lemon law changes walks through each piece, and the time-limit guide covers filing windows.
Problem types Ford owners ask about
Ford's California lineup leans on trucks and SUVs (F-150, Ranger, Maverick, Bronco, Explorer), plus the Mustang Mach-E. The complaints that lead owners to ask about the lemon law follow those vehicle types:
- harsh, delayed, or unexpected transmission shifts
- engine oil leaks, stalling, or a warning light that returns after each repair
- rearview cameras and center screens that freeze or go blank
- electrical faults and 12-volt battery drain
- charging and high-voltage battery faults on hybrids and EVs
None of these qualifies on its own. What counts is whether your specific problem is covered by the warranty, substantially impairs the vehicle, and keeps coming back after Ford's dealers have had a fair chance to fix it. Separate problems can also add up, because the presumption counts more than 30 total days in the shop for warranty repairs within 18 months or 18,000 miles.
Recent recalls
These are official NHTSA campaigns, described as NHTSA describes them. A recall is a remedy campaign, not a finding about any particular vehicle, and a recall repair may or may not count toward a lemon law claim depending on the facts. Ask the dealer to note on the repair order whether a recall visit also addressed your own complaint.
- NHTSA recall 25V-315 covers certain 2021-2024 Bronco and F-150, 2021-2023 Mustang Mach-E, and other Ford and Lincoln models (1,076,138 vehicles). A software error may delay, freeze, or blank the rearview camera image. Remedy: a free APIM software update, at a dealer or over the air.
- NHTSA recall 26V-578 covers certain 2023-2027 F-150 trucks. The fuel tank may be improperly secured and could leak or detach. Dealers inspect and replace the tank straps as needed.
- NHTSA recall 25V-198 covers certain 2024-2025 F-150 and Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles with the 3.5L GTDI engine. A misaligned engine cup plug may cause a rapid oil leak. Dealers inspect the plug and replace it if needed.
Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Ford habits that make a claim easier to prove
Ford's guide notes that not every Ford dealer is authorized for every warranty repair, so some owners get sent to a second store. That dealer's repair order belongs in your file too. Ask each service writer to record your complaint in your own words, plus the dates in and out, because those dates are how days out of service get counted.
Software is the other Ford wrinkle. Ford sends some fixes remotely as Ford Power-Up updates, and the 2026 guide says you won't be charged during the warranty period for components damaged by a defect in one of those updates. A remote update may never produce a repair order, so write down the date, the software version, and what changed. Keep the case number from any call to Ford's Customer Relationship Center (1-800-392-3673), and mail notices certified with a return receipt.
What to do next with a Ford or Lincoln
Gather each repair order, your purchase or lease contract, and any letters or emails from Ford. Then answer a few questions in the lemon law checker or send the details for a free case review. We will tell you which notice rules apply to your Ford and roughly how much time you have.
Updated October 2, 2026
Common questions
Does Ford's warranty transfer if I bought my Ford used?
For repairs, yes. Ford's 2026 Warranty Guide says that if you bought a previously owned 2026-model vehicle, you are eligible for any remaining warranty coverage. A buyback is a different matter. Since Rodriguez v. FCA US (California Supreme Court, 2024), a used vehicle bought with only the leftover factory warranty is generally not a new motor vehicle under the lemon law, so the refund-or-replace remedy usually isn't available. Demonstrators and dealer-owned vehicles sold with a new-car warranty can still qualify, and other warranty laws may help. Our used car lemon law page explains the options.
Do I need to write to both Ford addresses?
They do different jobs. The Customer Relationship Center address in Dearborn (P.O. Box 6248) is where Ford's guide asks owners to send written notice of defects, and that kind of direct notice can matter for the 2-repair and 4-repair parts of California's presumption. The LLNOTICE@ford.com address is for the formal California demand to repurchase or replace, which must be sent at least 30 days before suing for civil penalties. A defect notice is simple to send early. The formal demand has legal consequences, so consider having a lawyer prepare it.
Is a Lincoln handled the same way as a Ford?
Mostly. Lincoln vehicles are warranted by Ford Motor Company, the DCA lists Lincoln under Ford's BBB AUTO LINE program, and the 2026 Lincoln Warranty Guide uses the same California notice address (LLNOTICE@ford.com). The warranty itself runs longer: 4 years or 50,000 miles bumper to bumper and 6 years or 70,000 miles on the powertrain for 2026 models.
What happens after I send Ford the 30-day notice?
Under Code of Civil Procedure section 871.24, if Ford offers to repurchase or replace the vehicle (plus reasonable attorney's fees) within 30 days and completes it within 60 days, civil penalties are off the table. If Ford makes no offer within 30 days, you can file suit. You can also sue without sending the notice, but then you can't ask for civil penalties. Our step-by-step process guide shows where the notice fits.
My F-150 had a recall repair. Does that count as a repair attempt?
It can, but not always. A recall visit is still a visit where a Ford dealer worked on your truck, and the repair order shows the date, mileage, and work done. Whether it counts toward a claim depends on whether the recall addressed the same problem you've been reporting and whether that problem came back. Save the recall repair order with the rest of your records either way.