"Customer Assistance Centers".  Consumers can call the manufacturers toll-free "assistance center".  They can explain that they feel they have a vehicle that qualifies under the California lemon law.  The representatives will give out a "case number" to the consumer.  Often times the unknowing consumer thinks this "case" number means something, especially when followed by the potential language of "we are opening a case number for you".  Consumers can be potentially mislead that this is the "opening" or "start" of a legal California lemon law case.  It is NOT. A "case number" is often nothing more than a REFERENCE number to the consumer calling in their complaint(s) that allows the automobile manufacturer to establish a numerical file on the consumers call-in.