Electrical and infotainment problems under California's lemon law: when a "minor" glitch still counts

Modern vehicles run on software and wiring. When the backup camera shows a black screen, the center display freezes or reboots, your phone will not stay connected, warning lights flicker for no reason, or the 12-volt battery dies overnight, the car may still drive, but it is not working the way it was sold. Dealers often call these problems minor. Under California's lemon law, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, some of them are not.

This guide explains when electrical and infotainment problems qualify, why a backup camera is safety equipment, how dealers document intermittent glitches, how repair visits are counted and what to bring to a lawyer. It is general information about California law as of October 2026, not legal advice about your vehicle.

When does a "minor" defect still count?

The lemon law does not cover every annoyance. It covers a "nonconformity," which Civil Code § 1793.22(e)(1) defines as a defect that substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the vehicle to the buyer or lessee. Any one of the three is enough: a defect does not have to make the car unsafe if it substantially impairs its use or its value.

The standard California jury instruction asks whether a reasonable person in the buyer's situation would believe the defect substantially impaired the vehicle's use, value or safety, and lists factors jurors may consider, including the nature of the defect, the cost and length of time required for repair, whether past repair attempts have been successful, how far the vehicle could be used while awaiting repair, and the availability and cost of other transportation (CACI No. 3204). The notes to that instruction say minor impairments do not qualify; "substantially" requires a meaningful effect.

In practice, electrical problems tend to cross that line when they:

• Affect safety equipment, such as the rearview camera, lights, wipers, warning chimes, driver-assistance features or instrument-cluster displays.
• Leave you stranded, as a repeatedly dead 12-volt battery or a car that will not start or shift out of park can.
• Take away controls you need, for example when climate, defrost or navigation functions live only on a screen that freezes.
• Keep coming back after repeated software updates or module replacements.
• Hurt resale value, because a buyer would pay less for a car with a known, unfixed electrical fault.

Several related glitches can add up. The notes to the jury instruction on the elements of a claim cite authority that a nonconformity can include a complex of related conditions (CACI No. 3201). A screen that reboots, a camera that drops out and a phone connection that fails may trace to the same module. You do not need to prove the cause; the same instruction says a buyer does not have to prove the cause of a defect.

Backup cameras are safety equipment

A rearview camera is not a luxury accessory. Under a federal rule NHTSA announced in 2014, vehicles under 10,000 pounds made on or after May 1, 2018 must have rear visibility technology meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111. When a camera fails that standard, manufacturers recall the vehicles. NHTSA's records show how stubborn these defects can be:

• Recall 25V-572 (2025) covers 1,456,417 Ford and Lincoln vehicles from the 2015–2019 model years whose rearview camera "may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse." Dealers will inspect and replace cameras as needed.
• Certain 2021–2022 Ford Broncos with 8-inch SYNC screens were recalled because the rearview image could stay on after backing, which NHTSA's record says fails to comply with FMVSS 111. Some vehicles were later recalled again because the earlier fix was done incorrectly, and a December 2025 recall, 25V-888, covers screens "previously repaired incorrectly" under recall 23V-165.
• A 2026 Bronco recall (26V-124) describes an infotainment module that may overheat and shut down, so the rearview camera image may not display, according to NHTSA's recall data.

These are examples, not a list of every affected vehicle, and they do not mean any brand's vehicles are generally defective. A recall alone does not make your car a lemon. But if your camera or screen keeps failing after a recall repair, each return visit is another repair attempt. Because a camera failure can affect safety, it may also qualify for the shorter two-attempt presumption; our guide to safety defects and the two-attempt rule explains it. For Ford-specific recalls, see our Ford lemon law guide.

Screens, phone connectivity and battery drain

Infotainment screens. Freezing, rebooting, a black screen, lag or "ghost" touches can disable climate controls, navigation, audio and settings. If basic functions such as defrost or the camera run through the screen, a failing screen can affect safety, not just convenience.

Phone connectivity. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth problems are among the hardest to pin down, because the dealer may blame your phone. Test with a second phone and a manufacturer-approved cable if possible, and note the phone model and software version on the repair order. If the dealer says it is a phone problem, ask that the repair order say what test was done.

12-volt battery drain. A car that will not start after sitting overnight may have a module that does not shut down, a wiring fault or a weak battery. Dealers often replace the battery first. If the car keeps going dead after a new battery, the defect has not been fixed. Keep roadside assistance and towing records; each one shows the car could not be used.

Other electrical faults. Power windows, locks, keyless entry, lights, gauges and warning messages that appear for no reason can all be warranty defects. Whether they substantially impair the car depends on the facts.

How dealers document electrical problems

Every warranty work order must carry a printed notice of your warranty rights, and you must receive a copy when warranty work is done (Civil Code § 1793.1). Electrical complaints produce some predictable entries:

• "Could not duplicate" or "operates as designed." Intermittent glitches often do not appear during a short visit. The visit still counts: under CACI No. 3202, each time the vehicle was given to the manufacturer or its authorized repair facility for repair counts as an opportunity to repair, even if no repair work was done.
• "Performed software update" or "reprogrammed module." That is a repair attempt. If the problem returns, the next visit is another attempt on the same defect.
• "Customer education." If the dealer says you were using a feature wrong, write down what it told you and whether the problem continued after you followed its advice.
• Technical service bulletins and codes. Ask that any bulletin numbers and stored fault codes be printed on the repair order. NHTSA lists manufacturer communications alongside recalls and complaints on nhtsa.gov; our recall and complaint lookup shows patterns for your model.

The best evidence for an intermittent glitch is video. Have a passenger record it, or record with the car safely parked, and show the date and odometer if you can. Bring the video to the service visit and ask the advisor to note on the repair order that it was shown.

The repair-attempt math

The Tanner Act presumes a reasonable number of attempts if, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, (1) a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury has been subject to repair two or more times, (2) the same defect has been subject to repair four or more times, or (3) the car has been out of service for repairs more than 30 cumulative calendar days. For the first two, you must have directly notified the manufacturer at least once if the warranty or owner's manual clearly disclosed that requirement (Civil Code § 1793.22(b)). A claim can succeed outside the presumption if the number of attempts was reasonable; see how many repair attempts the lemon law requires.

A hypothetical example. Luis buys a new crossover for $36,000. At 2,000 miles the backup camera goes black twice in a week; the dealer cannot duplicate it. At 4,500 miles the dealer updates the software. At 9,000 miles the camera fails again and the dealer replaces the radio module. At 12,000 miles it fails again. Four visits within 18 months for the same defect meet the four-attempt route if any required direct notice was given, and because the camera is safety equipment, the two-attempt route may apply too. The offset would use the 2,000 miles at the first visit: $36,000 × 2,000 ÷ 120,000 = $600. These numbers are illustrative only; our buyback calculator runs your own.

A buyback generally refunds the price paid, taxes, registration and incidental costs, minus that offset (Civil Code § 1793.2(d)(2)). A willful violation can add a civil penalty of up to two times actual damages, and a buyer who wins recovers attorney's fees and costs (Civil Code § 1794).

What to bring to a lawyer

• Your purchase or lease contract and the warranty booklet.
• Every repair order for the electrical problem, including "could not duplicate" and software-update visits.
• Videos and photos of the glitch with dates, and the phone model you use if connectivity is involved.
• Roadside assistance, jump-start and towing records for battery drain.
• Recall notices and any case numbers from the manufacturer's customer line.

Deadlines

For manufacturers that opted in to the 2025 procedures, a lawsuit generally must be filed within one year after the warranty expires and no later than six years after delivery, with time added for days in the shop (Code of Civil Procedure § 871.21), and a buyer seeking civil penalties must send written notice at least 30 days before suing (§ 871.24). The opt-in list is reported; check the Department of Consumer Affairs list. For other manufacturers, the deadline is generally four years under the Commercial Code's warranty statute of limitations, and tolling rules can apply. Call promptly.

How LaCour handles electrical defect claims

LaCour Trial Lawyers handles California lemon law claims statewide, in English and Spanish, with trial counsel leading each case. When a claim succeeds, the manufacturer pays the buyer's attorney's fees and costs. Send us your repair orders and videos for a free, confidential review.

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information about California and federal law and about public records as of its date. It is not legal advice, and reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney–client relationship. Allegations in lawsuits are claims, not findings. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising.