In 2024, the average American is spending about $48,397 on a new car. With that kind of investment, you’d expect a dependable ride that doesn’t have you running back to the mechanic every other week.
But each year, thousands of unlucky buyers end up with lemons—cars sold with hidden defects, problems, or damage that wasn’t disclosed upfront.
Getting stuck with a lemon can be a nightmare. You may face hefty repair bills just to keep the car running, or worse, end up with a vehicle so riddled with defects that it’s beyond fixing.
To help protect yourself—and your wallet—here are six simple tips to make sure you’re not buying a lemon.
How to Avoid Buying a Lemon in Six Simple Steps
A lemon refers to a car with serious problems that make it unsafe or unreliable to drive. The exact definition can vary by state, but it generally refers to a significant defect covered under warranty that impacts the car’s safety, value, or functionality.
Common examples of lemon-worthy defects include:
- Faulty transmission
- Suspension issues
- Engine problems
- Brake malfunctions
It may not always be easy to predict whether a new car will turn out to be a lemon. However, you can take proactive steps to lower your chances of buying one.
1) Do Your Homework on the Car
The best way to avoid buying a lemon is to do some research.
Look up the specific make and model of the car you’re considering on websites like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and Consumer Reports. These platforms provide comprehensive reviews, reliability ratings, and details about common problems associated with various vehicles.
Also, don’t forget to check for recalls. Head to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website and enter the car’s information to see if it has a history of recalls, particularly for safety-related issues. Even if the recalls have been addressed, a pattern of recurring problems could indicate broader reliability issues with that particular model.
2) Conduct An Initial Inspection
Cars go through a lot before they reach you—shipping, handling, storage—and mistakes can happen along the way. A careful inspection can save you from unpleasant surprises later.
Here’s what to check.
- On the Outside:
- Body Panels: Look for inconsistent gaps between body panels. Uneven gaps or misaligned doors could indicate poor assembly or previous damage that was fixed (but not well enough).
- Paint and Finish: Inspect the paint under different lighting conditions—sometimes uneven or mismatched paint is easier to spot in natural light.
- Warning Lights: Check the dashboard for any warning lights that shouldn’t be illuminated. Persistent warnings about the engine, brakes, or airbags could signal serious safety problems.
- On the Inside:
- All Features: Flip every switch, push every button, and test every system. Roll down the windows, adjust the mirrors, try out the infotainment system, and turn on the AC and heating. Make sure everything responds as it should.
- Seats and Upholstery: Check the seats for stains, rips, or loose stitching. Adjust them to see if the mechanisms work smoothly. If the car has power-adjustable seats, test all the settings.
- Dashboard and Displays: Look for warning lights on the dashboard. A new car shouldn’t have random alerts. Make sure the digital displays are clear and functioning properly.
- Sounds and Smells: Pay attention to any strange noises when you start the engine or activate features. Also, take a whiff—a musty or chemical odor might mean something is wrong.
- Under the Hood:
- Fluid Levels and Leaks: Check if the fluid levels look topped off and clean. Keep an eye out for any signs of leaks around hoses, caps, or the engine itself.
- Battery: Look at the battery terminals. They should be clean and free of corrosion. Loose or poorly connected terminals can cause electrical issues down the road.
- Belts and Hoses: Examine the belts and hoses for cracks, frays, or visible wear. While you’re at it, make sure no parts seem loose or out of place.
- Tires and Wheels:
- Tire Condition: Surprisingly, new tires can develop issues if they’ve been sitting on the lot for a while. Look for any signs of wear, cracks, or uneven tread.
- Air Pressure: Make sure the tires are properly inflated. Uneven pressure can affect how the car drives and indicate that the dealership skipped some pre-delivery prep.
- Wheels and Rims: Inspect for scratches, dents, or damage. Damaged rims could lead to vibration or wobbling when you’re on the road.
3) Do Not Skip the Test Drive
The test drive is one of the most important steps in evaluating a new car. Take the car on a variety of roads—city streets, highways, and hills, if possible—to get a full sense of how it performs in different conditions.
Check the:
- Braking: Test the brakes at different speeds. They should feel firm and responsive, not spongy or uneven.
- Acceleration: Accelerate gradually and rapidly to see how the car responds. If the engine hesitates, stutters, or makes unusual noises, it could indicate mechanical problems.
- Steering and Handling: The steering must feel tight, smooth, and responsive. Be careful if the car pulls to one side- the wheels or suspension may be damaged.
On your test drive, turn off the radio and listen for odd sounds like rattling, squeaking, or whining. Unusual noises can hint at mechanical issues.
4) Request a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) Report
Before the dealership hands you the keys, they’re supposed to perform a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI). It’s the final quality check to ensure your car meets the manufacturer’s standards. While most dealerships take this step seriously, it’s your job to confirm that it’s actually been done—and done right.
When you ask to see the PDI report, here’s what you should expect to find:
- Tire pressure and alignment
- Fluid levels
- Battery performance
- Any software updates or recalls
If the dealership refuses to show you the PDI report, walk away. There are plenty of other cars out there.
5) Understand the Warranty
Most new cars come with a standard factory warranty. The two most common types of coverage are:
- Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: Typically covers most parts of the car from defects in materials or workmanship. Lasts 3 to 5 years or up to 36,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on the automaker.
- Powertrain Warranty: Aimed at components that make the car move, such as the engine, transmission, and drivetrain. Powertrain warranties often last longer than bumper-to-bumper coverage—sometimes up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Make sure you know what’s covered under each warranty, and for how long. Ask about exclusions, too. For instance, some warranties might not cover wear-and-tear items like tires or brake pads.
Warranties are designed to protect you financially and legally. If your car requires repeated repairs for a warranty-covered defect while it’s covered, you may have grounds for a valid case under your state’s new car lemon laws.
6) Be Suspicious of Extra Features
Some dealerships may try to upsell you a car with features like a custom suspension system or other flashy add-ons. It’s important to verify if these were installed by the manufacturer.
If they weren’t, you could face significant mechanical problems down the line, and repairs for these aftermarket additions likely won’t be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.
What to Do If You End Up with a Lemon
Despite taking every precaution, there’s no foolproof way to guarantee you won’t get a lemon. However, most states have new car lemon laws in place to protect consumers who find themselves in this unfortunate situation.
For example, under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, also known as the California lemon law, a vehicle qualifies as a lemon if:
- It has a defect or problem that Substantially impairs its use, safety, or value.
- The defect is covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.
- The manufacturer or authorized dealership has been unable to repair the issue after a reasonable number of attempts.
- The vehicle has been out of service for 30 cumulative days or more for warranty repairs (not necessarily consecutive).
To pursue a lemon law claim in California, you’ll have to:
- Document Everything: Keep detailed records of all repair attempts, including invoices, work orders, and communications with the dealer or manufacturer.
- Contact the Manufacturer: Notify the carmaker in writing about the defect and your intention to file a claim under the lemon law.
- Consult a Lemon Law Attorney: If the manufacturer fails to repair your vehicle or dismisses your concerns, consult a lemon law attorney in California to file a claim and negotiate a resolution.
The Wrap Up
Use these tips when you shop for a new car, and you’ll easily avoid buying a lemon and all the frustrations that come with it. Take your time, do your research, and don’t let anyone pressure you into a bad deal.
Meta Description: Are you worried about buying a lemon car? Here are six tips to ensure that your new car is not a lemon, saving you from potential problems and costly repairs.
Author Bio: Brian K. Cline’s Lemon Law Legal Group provides premier legal services. Our California lemon law lawyers aggressively and ethically force vehicle manufacturers to buy back defective and dangerous vehicles. Our team includes experienced trial lawyers with over 40 years of combined trial experience.
