For purposes of this chapter, any reference to a manufacturer also applies to a distributor or warrantor.
§ 871.23.Manufacturers Equated With Distributors and Warrantors
Title 10. Actions In Particular Cases · Chapter 12. Actions for Restitution for or Replacement of Certain Motor Vehicles · Enacted 1755 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 871.23 provides that whenever this chapter refers to a manufacturer, that reference also applies to a distributor or a warrantor.
Full Text of § 871.23
Plain-English Summary
Rather than repeating "manufacturer, distributor, or warrantor" throughout the chapter, § 871.23 handles it in one stroke: any reference to a manufacturer in this chapter also applies to a distributor or a warrantor.
That shorthand matters in practice, since distributors and warrantors -- not only the entity that physically manufactures a vehicle -- can be the party a consumer deals with directly, or the party bound by the applicable express warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this chapter apply only to vehicle manufacturers?
No. Any reference to "manufacturer" in this chapter also covers a distributor or a warrantor.
Why does the chapter define 'manufacturer' this broadly?
Because a consumer's dealings and applicable express warranty may run through a distributor or warrantor rather than the entity that physically built the vehicle, and § 871.23 keeps the chapter's protections reaching that party too.
Amendment History
Added by Stats 2024 ch 938 (AB 1755),s 1, eff. 1/1/2025.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: distributor warrantor lemon law california