Electrical problems can be some of the most difficult problems to diagnose.
The vehicle may work perfectly one day and malfunction the next.
A warning light may appear and disappear.
The dealership may replace a battery, reset a computer, update software, or replace a module— only for the problem to return.
If this sounds familiar, you may be wondering whether an electrical problem can lead to a
Nevada Lemon Law claim.
The answer is potentially yes.
Modern vehicles depend heavily on electronics
A new car may rely on electrical and electronic systems for:
- starting;
- braking;
- steering;
- charging;
- climate control;
- cameras;
- sensors;
- infotainment;
- keyless entry;
- driver-assistance systems;
- battery management; and
- propulsion.
An electrical problem can therefore be much more than an inconvenience.
Examples of recurring electrical problems
Owners sometimes experience:
- repeated dead batteries;
- unexplained electrical shutdowns;
- warning lights;
- intermittent no-start conditions;
- doors or locks that stop working;
- cameras that fail;
- screens that go blank;
- charging failures;
- repeated computer resets;
- driver-assistance failures; or
- multiple systems failing at the same time.
The dealership may have difficulty finding the cause
Electrical problems can be intermittent.
A technician may not be able to duplicate the condition.
That is why your own documentation can be valuable.
Write down exactly what happened.
If the dashboard displayed a warning message, photograph it.
If the vehicle suddenly would not start, write down the circumstances.
If several systems failed simultaneously, list them.
Don’t minimize the problem
You might think:
“It’s only an electrical issue.”
But an electrical system can affect essential vehicle functions.
If your vehicle repeatedly stops working correctly, the problem deserves to be documented.
Keep every repair order
Electrical problems sometimes result in a series of different repairs.
For example:
- Battery replaced.
- Software updated.
- Control module replaced.
- Wiring inspected.
- Another module replaced.
- Problem returns.
That history tells a much more complete story than a single repair invoice.
Could the vehicle be a lemon?
Possibly.
Nevada’s Lemon Law concerns new vehicles that do not conform to applicable express
warranties and cannot be conformed to those warranties after a reasonable number of
attempts. Nevada law includes presumptions involving four repair attempts for the same
continuing nonconformity and 30 cumulative days out of service during the applicable period.
The fact that the defect is electrical does not automatically exclude it.
What if the manufacturer says it is fixed?
Monitor the vehicle after every repair.
If the problem returns, report it promptly.
Do not assume that because the dealer marked a repair order “complete,” the problem has permanently disappeared.
Take the 30-Second Nevada New Car Problem Quiz
If your new car has been in the shop repeatedly, you don’t have to figure out
whether it might be a lemon by yourself.
Take our 30-second Nevada New Car Problem Quiz.
We’ll ask about your vehicle, warranty, repair history and time out of service.
Precision Injury Law represents Nevada consumers with qualifying vehicle
warranty and Lemon Law problems.
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