CACI No. 3203. Reasonable Number of Repair Opportunities - Rebuttable Presumption (Civ. Code, § 1793.22(b))
Judicial Council of California Civil Jury Instructions (2025 edition)
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3203.Reasonable Number of Repair Opportunities - Rebuttable
Presumption (Civ. Code, § 1793.22(b))
The number of opportunities to make repairs is presumed to be
reasonable if [name of plaintiff] proves that within [18 months from
delivery of the [new motor vehicle] to [him/her/nonbinary pronoun/it]] [or]
[the first 18,000 miles] [insert option A, B, and/or C:]
[A. 1. The vehicle was made available to [name of defendant] [or its
authorized repair facility] for repair of the same substantially
impairing defect two or more times; [and]
2. The defect resulted in a condition that was likely to cause
death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle were driven; [and]
3. [[Name of plaintiff] directly notified [name of manufacturer] in
writing about the need to repair the defect;] [or]]
[B. 1. The vehicle was made available to [name of defendant] [or its
authorized repair facility] for repair of the same substantially
impairing defect four or more times; [and]
2. [[Name of plaintiff] directly notified [name of manufacturer] in
writing about the need to repair the defect;] [or]]
[C. The vehicle was out of service for repair of substantially
impairing defects by [name of defendant] [or its authorized repair
facility] for more than 30 days.]
If [name of plaintiff] has proved these facts, then the number of
opportunities to make repairs was reasonable unless [name of defendant]
proves that under all the circumstances [name of defendant] [or its
authorized repair facility] was not given a reasonable opportunity to
repair the defect.
[The 30-day limit for repairing defects will be lengthened if [name of
defendant] proves that repairs could not be made because of conditions
beyond the control of [name of defendant] or its authorized repair
facility.]
New September 2003; Revised February 2005, May 2020
Directions for Use
This instruction should not be given if none of the enumerated situations apply to
the plaintiff’s case. (Jiagbogu v. Mercedes-Benz USA (2004) 118 Cal.App.4th 1235,
1245 [13 Cal.Rptr.3d 679].)
Note that the factfinder’s inquiry should be focused on overall reasonableness of the
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opportunities plaintiff gave defendant to make repairs. Therefore, while satisfying
the rebuttable presumption (without having it overcome by defendant) is one way
for plaintiff to satisfy the reasonable opportunities requirement, the plaintiff may do
so in other ways instead. Likewise, because the statutory presumption is rebuttable,
defendant is allowed an opportunity to overcome it.
The rebuttable presumption concerning the number of repair attempts applies only to
new motor vehicles - see the Tanner Consumer Protection Act. (Civ. Code,
§ 1793.22(b).)
The bracketed language in the first two optional paragraphs concerning notice made
directly to the manufacturer are applicable only if “the manufacturer has clearly and
conspicuously disclosed to the buyer, with the warranty or the owner’s manual, the
provisions of [the Tanner Consumer Protection Act] and that of [Civil Code section
1793.2(d)], including the requirement that the buyer must notify the manufacturer
directly.” (See Civ. Code, § 1793.22(b)(3).) This is a matter that the judge should
determine ahead of time as an issue of law.
Sources and Authority
• Replacement or Reimbursement After Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts.
Civil Code section 1793.2(d)(2).
• Reasonable Number of Repair Opportunities. Civil Code section 1793.22(b).
• “We believe . . . that the only affirmative step the Act imposes on consumers is
to ‘permit[] the manufacturer a reasonable opportunity to repair the vehicle.’
Whether or not the manufacturer’s agents choose to take advantage of the
opportunity, or are unable despite that opportunity to isolate and make an effort
to repair the problem, are matters for which the consumer is not responsible.”
(Oregel v. American Isuzu Motors, Inc. (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 1094, 1103-1104
[109 Cal.Rptr.2d 583], internal citations and footnote omitted.)
Secondary Sources
2 California UCC Sales & Leases (Cont.Ed.Bar) Prelitigation Remedies, § 17.10
8 California Forms of Pleading and Practice, Ch. 91, Automobiles: Actions Involving
Defects and Repairs, § 91.16 (Matthew Bender)
20 California Points and Authorities, Ch. 206, Sales, § 206.104 (Matthew Bender)
California Civil Practice: Business Litigation, § 53:27 (Thomson Reuters)
SONG-BEVERLY CONSUMER WARRANTY ACT CACI No. 3203
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