New car buyers and lessees in San Diego County expect their vehicles to work as promised. However, for many, defects surface soon after purchase, leading to a stressful and confusing experience.
This is especially true when a new motor vehicle includes dealer add-ons. These are features or products installed by the dealership rather than the manufacturer. While they might seem like upgrades at the time of purchase, they can create additional challenges if your new car turns out to be a lemon.
If you think you might have a lemon vehicle, it’s important to understand how dealer add-ons affect your rights under what state lemon law covers. This is especially true for California drivers, since so many people here buy new cars frequently.
With auto sales and dealer-installed product offerings rising, more consumers are finding themselves working through the sometimes-complex relationship between dealer add-ons and California lemon law protections. Familiarity with this intersection can help you protect your rights and steer clear of pitfalls if your new motor vehicle turns out to be defective.
Let’s explore what dealer add-ons are, how they differ from original manufacturer parts, and why they matter so much for your lemon law claim in California.
What Are Dealer Add-Ons?
Dealer add-ons are features, accessories, or installed on your new car by the dealership before you take delivery, but after the motor vehicle leaves the factory. They are not part of the original manufacturer’s build, but rather products that are offered as enhancements or upgrades, often at an extra cost.
In many cases, consumers feel coerced to accept these upgrades. A 2024 survey from KPA found that at least 34% of vehicle buyers have felt pressured to purchase add-ons.
Some common dealer add-ons include alarm systems, paint protection, rust proofing, window tinting, aftermarket wheels, upgraded audio systems, and remote start devices. While these may improve your driving experience or vehicle appearance, they often differ in quality from factory-installed options and may have separate warranties or service contracts.
The central distinction: factory-installed parts are covered by the motor vehicle manufacturer’s car warranty and included in the new car build, while dealer add-ons are covered by the dealer or the add-on supplier.
This might seem like a minor distinction, but believe us: this difference plays a critical role in your lemon law protection.
Dealer Add-Ons and California Lemon Law
When defects or recurring problems show up in your new car, you may turn to California’s lemon law for relief. The law protects consumers from defective motor vehicles that substantially affect safety, use, or value, provided certain conditions are met.
However, California lemon law rights typically focus on defects in manufacturer-installed components or systems.
Dealer add-ons fall into a gray area. If a problem arises from a dealer-installed item, rather than something that was part of the car when it left the manufacturer, the responsibility and available remedies can be foggy.
For example, if a dealer-installed alarm system drains your battery and causes performance issues, but isn’t covered by the manufacturer’s vehicle warranty, your lemon law claim could become more complicated.
How Add-Ons Affect Lemon Law Claims
If your new motor vehicle’s problems are linked to dealer add-ons, your lemon law claim can get tricky. Here’s how responsibility issues often arise:
Disputes Over Responsibility
One major issue with dealer add-ons is determining who is responsible for any problems they cause under state lemon law. When a defect involves a dealer-installed item, manufacturers may argue they are not liable, since they did not supply or install that part.
This can lead to disputes between you, the dealer, and the manufacturer over who needs to fix the problem or provide a remedy. In cases where an add-on causes damage to manufacturer parts, things can get even more contentious.
Impact on Buyback Calculations
California’s lemon law may entitle you to a buyback or replacement vehicle if your car qualifies as a lemon. However, the calculation of a buyback generally covers the original price of the new car and factory-installed options, not aftermarket dealer add-ons.
This means money you spent on rust protection, upgraded wheels, or a high-end stereo through the dealer may not be reimbursed in a lemon law resolution. That’s why you should clarify which components are actually covered if you are pursuing a lemon law buyback.
Repair Services and Warranty Coverage Issues
Dealer add-ons may not be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. If an add-on causes or contributes to a defect, both the manufacturer and dealership might deny responsibility. This can lead to delays in repair attempts or multiple trips to both the dealer and authorized repair centers.
Documentation is incredibly useful in these cases. Furthermore, knowing what is covered by which party can help you avoid circular blame and wasted time.
Manufacturer Versus Dealer Responsibility
In the context of lemon law, liability generally falls on the manufacturer for defects in original equipment or systems. When a dealer add-on is at fault, the dealer or third-party vendor behind the add-on usually holds responsibility for repairs or replacement under the terms of the add-on warranty.
This split in liability adds complexity to lemon law cases. For instance, if a dealer-installed remote start system causes electrical issues that affect your new car’s central computer, resolving the origin of the problem becomes vital. Manufacturers may refuse repairs related to add-ons, while dealers may not have the technical resources (or incentive) to fix system-wide issues.
As a consumer, you should be aware that lemon law protections for manufacturer defects can be limited if the defect stems from a dealer add-on. You’ll likely need to separate and document which parts or systems are affected and under whose warranty they fall.
Steps to Take If Your Motor Vehicle Has Dealer Add-Ons
If your vehicle has defects and includes dealer add-ons, follow these steps to strengthen your California lemon law case:
Collect All Purchase Documents
Keep the sales contract, owner’s manual, add-on receipts, extended warranty booklets, service contracts, and any paperwork showing what was installed at the dealer. These will help clarify who is responsible for repairs.
Document Add-On Issues
Take photos, keep repair attempt records, and note when and how problems occur. If a dealer add-on causes damage to other parts of the new car, or even a serious bodily injury, make a clear connection in your documentation. It needs to be clear if this problem substantially impairs safety or functionality.
Communicate With Both Dealer and Manufacturer
Report the defective vehicle to both parties in writing. Insist on getting clear answers about who will repair the issue and which warranty applies.
For San Diego County residents, the local Better Business Bureau Auto Line and the California Department of Consumer Affairs can offer state or federal law resources or help mediate if the dealer and manufacturer disagree over responsibility for the same problem.
When to Contact a California Lemon Law Attorney
If your claim involves dealer add-ons and the defect is not straightforward, your next step should be to speak with a California lemon law attorney. Many situations benefit from legal advice, including:
- Disputes between the dealer and manufacturer over who is responsible for the repair services.
- Unclear or denied written warranty coverage related to add-ons.
- Incomplete or confusing buyback offers that do not reflect the potential value lost due to installed add-ons on the vehicle purchased.
- Reasonable number of repair attempts (typically two or more) or when your car is out of service for over 30 days due to unresolved issues.
A California lemon law attorney will meticulously gather and organize evidence showing how dealer add-ons contributed to your motor vehicle’s problems, identify which party is legally responsible for repairs or compensation, and advocate on your behalf during tough negotiations with both manufacturers and dealerships.
Ultimately, their expertise helps make sure that important details (such as the interplay between different warranties, ridiculous numbers of repair attempts, or overlooked damages) don’t fall through the cracks.
Many law firms, including those locally in San Diego County, offer free case evaluations. Bringing all documentation regarding add-ons and repairs to this consultation helps you get solid advice that’s pertinent to your particular circumstances.
Have Questions About Dealer Add-Ons & Lemon Law? We’re Here to Help.
Dealer add-ons can be appealing, but they often complicate the lemon law process when motor vehicle defects emerge. Knowing what is covered by manufacturer versus dealer warranties and keeping thorough documentation helps you respond more effectively if problems arise.
If you are facing an ongoing issue involving dealer add-ons and your lemon law protections, take action by organizing your records and seeking expert input early. Protecting your rights and seeking a partial or complete refund starts with knowing the rules of the road.
