Electrical and Infotainment Defects

Modern vehicles depend on electronics for almost everything, from starting the engine to braking, steering assist and the backup camera. When electrical systems fail, the vehicle can become unreliable or unsafe, and these problems are often hard for dealers to diagnose. If your car, truck or SUV keeps going back to the dealer for the same electrical problem, California’s lemon law may require the manufacturer to buy it back or replace it. Faler Law Group represents California drivers with defective vehicles.

Common Electrical and Infotainment Problems

• Dead batteries or a vehicle that won’t start, often caused by a parasitic drain.
• Infotainment screens that freeze, reboot or go black.
• Backup or surround-view cameras that don’t display.
• Warning lights that come on for no clear reason, or gauges that stop working.
• Driver-assist problems, such as sudden “phantom” braking, lane-keeping errors or sensor failure messages.
• Power windows, locks, seats or liftgates that stop working or act on their own.
• Key fob and keyless start problems.
• Lighting problems, such as headlights or turn signals that fail.
• Wiring or module failures that cause several symptoms at once.

When an Electrical Defect Can Make a Vehicle a Lemon

Under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, if a new vehicle has a defect covered by the manufacturer’s warranty that substantially impairs its use, value or safety, and the manufacturer or its dealers can’t fix it after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price.

Not every glitch meets that standard. A minor problem that doesn’t affect how you use the vehicle may not be enough on its own. But electrical problems that leave you stranded, disable safety features, affect key controls or keep coming back after repairs often do.

The Tanner presumption (Civil Code section 1793.22) applies too. A vehicle is presumed to be a lemon if, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first:

• A defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury was subject to repair two or more times,
• The same problem was subject to repair four or more times, or
• The vehicle was out of service for repairs for more than 30 days in total.

Notice and dispute-program requirements can also apply, and a vehicle can still qualify outside these guidelines. Learn how California lemon law works.

Electrical Problems and Safety

Some electrical defects are safety issues. Examples include a vehicle that loses power or shuts down while driving, driver-assist systems that brake suddenly for no reason, headlights that fail, and a backup camera that won’t display. Federal safety standards require rearview cameras on most new passenger vehicles made since May 2018, and manufacturers have issued recalls when cameras fail to work.

When a defect is likely to cause death or serious injury, two repair attempts within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles can be enough to trigger the Tanner presumption. Tell the service advisor exactly what happened and make sure it’s on the repair order.

Why Electrical Problems Are Hard to Fix

Electrical problems are often intermittent. They come and go, may depend on temperature or moisture, and may not leave a trouble code. That leads to a lot of repair orders that say “could not duplicate” or “no problem found,” or that list only a software update or a new battery.

• “Could not duplicate” visits can still matter. They show you reported the problem and gave the manufacturer a chance to fix it. You don’t have to figure out what’s causing the problem.
• Software updates for your complaint are generally repair attempts, including over-the-air updates in some cases.
• Battery replacements may not fix the real problem if something is draining the battery. Each visit still counts as a repair opportunity.

What to Do About Electrical Problems

1. Take the vehicle in every time the problem happens, even if you think the dealer won’t find it.
2. Record the problem with photos or video when it’s safe, such as a blank screen or warning messages. Never record while you’re driving.
3. Write down when it happens: the date, time, weather and what you were doing.
4. Keep every repair order, including ones that say “could not duplicate.” Make sure each describes your complaint and shows the dates and mileage in and out.
5. Keep receipts for towing, jump-starts, rental cars and any repairs you paid for.
6. Don’t wait. Deadlines apply, and some manufacturers now require written notice before a lawsuit can be filed.

Dealing with a different problem? Learn more about California lemon law.

Electrical Defects FAQ

Can electrical problems make my car a lemon in California?

Yes. If an electrical defect covered by the manufacturer’s warranty substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, value or safety, and it isn’t fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the manufacturer may have to buy back or replace the vehicle.

Is a glitchy infotainment screen enough for a lemon law claim?

It depends. A minor glitch that doesn’t affect how you use the vehicle may not be enough. But when the screen controls important functions like the backup camera, climate control or defrost, or the problem keeps coming back despite repairs, it can substantially impair the vehicle’s use or value.

My backup camera keeps going blank. Is that a safety issue?

It can be. Federal safety standards require rearview cameras on most new passenger vehicles made since May 2018, and manufacturers have issued recalls when cameras fail to display. A camera that keeps going blank can be treated as a safety defect, so describe the problem carefully on every repair order.

My car’s battery keeps dying, but the dealer just replaces the battery. Does that count?

Each visit for the problem is a repair attempt. If the battery keeps dying, the real cause may be a parasitic drain or another electrical fault. Make sure each repair order describes the problem in your words, not just “replaced battery.”

Do software updates count as repair attempts for electrical problems?

Generally, yes. Many electrical and infotainment problems are addressed with software updates. A software update for your complaint is usually an attempt to fix it, whether it’s done at the dealer or, in some cases, over the air. Keep a record of over-the-air updates too.