§ 871.20.Applicability

This section marks off exactly when Chapter 12 applies. It only covers actions against a manufacturer that has affirmatively elected, under § 871.29, to be governed by this chapter. Within that scope, the chapter reaches actions seeking restitution or replacement of a motor vehicle under Civil Code section 1793.2(b) or (d) or section 1793.22, or under Civil Code section 1794, and it reaches requests for civil penalties under section 1794(c) -- but only when the request rests on the vehicle's noncompliance with its applicable express warranty.

Subdivision (b) narrows the scope further. This chapter doesn't apply to service contract claims brought under Civil Code section 1794, and it doesn't apply to any action seeking remedies other than restitution or replacement of the vehicle.

The practical result: a consumer can't assume this chapter's discovery, mediation, notice, and offset rules govern a lemon law claim by default. They apply only when the specific manufacturer involved has opted in for the relevant model year under § 871.29 or § 871.30 -- otherwise, the claim proceeds under the ordinary Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act procedures instead.