# I bought a new car tonight and it is showing major issues. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 25, 2013, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334 "2013-02-25T09:09:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kewk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ab992/32.png) [@Kewk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kewk)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/1 "2013-02-25T09:09:49Z")
By the morning, when I return to the dealer, it would have been 14hrs since I bought my used car. It is showing possible transmission issues where the car will rev RPM’s but will not move the car and the check engine light is now on. :smack: How do I handle the situation at the dealership tomorrow? How can I just say “This is junk and I just want out of my contract”? This is in California. ---
**Author:** ![steviep24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@steviep24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steviep24)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/2 "2013-02-25T09:45:15Z")
You should be protected under a Lemon Law. Return the car and demand they fix it properly at no charge to you or they have to give you a full refund. Check engine light is nothing to mess with. The car won’t pass emissions inspection as long as the car is showing diagnostic codes. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/3 "2013-02-25T12:32:16Z")
California’s lemon law only applies to new vehicles. Hope you have a warranty or any repairs could be on your dime. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/4 "2013-02-25T13:00:59Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > California’s lemon law only applies to new vehicles. Hope you have a warranty or any repairs could be on your dime. I believe lemon laws typically apply to cars which are unable to be repaired despite _multiple_ attempts to do so. A car which has had a single problem and zero attempts at repair is not likely to be eligible for a lemon-law return. If OP has bought a used car “as is (no warranty),” then OP is F’d. If there’s a warranty, then just bring it back to the dealer and give them an opportunity to repair the problem. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/5 "2013-02-25T13:34:21Z")
What exactly is a “new” car? I thought that meant you’re the first owner, but obviously not. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/6 "2013-02-25T13:42:27Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > What exactly is a “new” car? I thought that meant you’re the first owner, but obviously not. Well, there is “new” and then there is “new to me”. Sounds like it was the latter in this case. Unfortunately for the OP, unless the car came with a warranty or he purchased a two-day return option (apparently this is a California thing), I think he is pretty much screwed. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/7 "2013-02-25T13:48:23Z")
I’ve never seen used cars sold in CA except as “AS-IS” or with a remaining factory warranty or with a very expensive add-on warranty. OP is likely screwed, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/8 "2013-02-25T14:05:20Z")
I’d recommend taking it to a good mechanic independent of the dealer. Ask them to evaluate it and tell you what’s wrong. Ideally, you’d do this prior to the purchase but even now it might tell you if this is a minor problem or the start of a long series of problems. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/9 "2013-02-25T14:07:22Z")
And reading [this DMV webpage](http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr35.htm), you should have been offered the option of buying a Contract Cancellation Option Agreement. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/10 "2013-02-25T14:18:49Z")
I bought a new car (2013) last month and it was explained to me that the buyer remorse option is no longer available. Once you buy it, that’s it. Not sure how that applies to the lemon law. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/11 "2013-02-25T14:29:33Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > I bought a new car (2013) last month and it was explained to me that the buyer remorse option is no longer available. Once you buy it, that’s it. Not sure what state you’re in, but that’s been true in CA (last place I bought a car) for quite some time. You drive off the lot, it’s yours. Just possibly when you sign the purchase agreement, it’s enforceably yours. (I suppose you could tear up the agreement and check, but…) ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/12 "2013-02-25T14:54:47Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > Not sure what state you’re in, but that’s been true in CA (last place I bought a car) for quite some time. You drive off the lot, it’s yours. Just possibly when you sign the purchase agreement, it’s enforceably yours. (I suppose you could tear up the agreement and check, but…) I think it’s actually yours when you take possession of it. As in driving it off their lot. And the lemon law thing requires several trips for the same problem, and the problem has to be something that relates to the use of the vehicle. Claiming 100.9 FM has too much static won’t cut it. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/13 "2013-02-25T15:19:16Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I think it’s actually yours when you take possession of it. As in driving it off their lot. > And the lemon law thing requires several trips for the same problem, and the problem has to be something that relates to the use of the vehicle. This is true. generally the requirement for a “lemon law” case is along the lines of 1) _x_ number of unsuccessful attempts to repair a particular problem, and/or 2) the problem has caused the vehicle to be out of service for _y_ number of days. > [@](#): > > Claiming 100.9 FM has too much static won’t cut it. Not quite true… ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/14 "2013-02-25T15:22:12Z")
Never buy a used car without a mechanic’s review. In a limited number of cases (quality brand, quality dealer, selling a used car of their own make) you can accept a dealer checkout or certification, but I can’t think of many cases where I wouldn’t pay $50-100 for a third-party check before signing the agreement. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/15 "2013-02-25T15:33:08Z")
Legal advice is best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/16 "2013-02-25T17:56:10Z")
[CA Lemon Law](http://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/lemon) covers new vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/17 "2013-02-25T21:13:59Z")
Let me guess: Jeep? ---
**Author:** ![Kewk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ab992/32.png) [@Kewk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kewk)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/18 "2013-02-25T22:48:46Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Let me guess: Jeep? It’s an Audi A4. Thanks for all the replies everyone. I took the car into a shop this morning and got the error codes. One was for the fuel and the other was for a misfiring piston. I took the car to the place I bought it after that and they told me they will get it fixed under warranty. The dealerships warranty is a 50/50 30day warranty but I also bought a 3yr 50,000 mile warranty for it. So whatever it takes to fix the misfiring piston I will have to pay half. Oh yeah the fuel… I believe they put 87 when they put gas in and the car requires 92. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/19 "2013-02-25T22:50:23Z")
Sounds like you’re good, then. What a relief, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334/20 "2013-02-25T23:15:22Z")
I don’t like the idea that you might have to pay half the cost of repairing the misfiring piston. Can that be covered under the 3 year/50,000 mile warranty? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-new-car-tonight-and-it-is-showing-major-issues/651334.md?page=2)