Start with the records. Repair orders, warranty documents, mileage, and days out of service are more useful than general assumptions about whether a vehicle qualifies.
Daytime running lights (DRLs) are easy to overlook—until they start failing again and again. If your DRLs flicker, shut off unexpectedly, or keep burning out despite multiple dealership visits, it can be more than an annoyance. In California, repeated lighting and electrical problems under warranty may trigger rights under the state’s lemon law. This article explains how the California Lemon Law can apply to daytime running light failures and what you can do to protect yourself.
California Lemon Law for Daytime Running Lights
Daytime running lights are designed to make your vehicle more visible to others during daylight hours. When they fail, you may see warning messages, experience flickering on one or both sides, or notice that the lights work intermittently after driving over bumps. Common causes include faulty LED modules, moisture intrusion in the headlamp assembly, wiring harness shorts, or a malfunctioning body control module—issues that often require more than a simple bulb swap.
California’s Lemon Law, part of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, covers new vehicles and many used or certified pre-owned vehicles that are still under the manufacturer’s warranty. To qualify, a defect must be covered by warranty and substantially impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety—and the manufacturer must have had a reasonable number of opportunities to fix it. There’s a legal “presumption” that can help consumers if, within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the vehicle has two or more repair attempts for a serious safety issue, four or more for a non-safety issue, or it’s out of service for 30 or more cumulative days for repairs. Even if you’re outside those benchmarks, you may still have rights during your warranty period.
If DRL failures persist despite proper repair attempts, you may be entitled to remedies such as a repurchase (buyback), a replacement vehicle, or a negotiated cash-and-keep settlement—depending on the facts and the law. Lighting problems can affect safety and value, especially if they reduce visibility, trigger warnings, or lead to repeated dealership visits and downtime. Every situation is unique; outcomes depend on documentation, timing, warranty coverage, and the nature of the defect.
What to Do if Daytime Running Lights Keep Failing
Start by documenting every symptom. Take photos or short videos showing when the DRLs fail (for example, only after warm-up, only on the right side, or after hitting a pothole). Keep a log of dates, mileage, weather conditions, dashboard warnings, and any messages you receive from the dealer. Save all repair orders and make sure they include your complaint, the technician’s findings (cause), and the repair performed (correction). If the same issue returns, note how long the vehicle is in the shop—those days add up.
When visiting the dealership, describe the problem clearly and ask the advisor to include your exact words on the repair order. Ask whether there are technical service bulletins (TSBs), software updates, or known part shortages related to your DRLs or headlamp assemblies. If parts are on backorder, request documentation and ask about a loaner vehicle. Avoid modifications (aftermarket lights, wiring changes) that could complicate warranty coverage, and confirm that the repairs are handled under the manufacturer’s warranty each time.
If the DRL issue continues or the vehicle spends significant time in the shop, consider speaking with a lemon law attorney to evaluate your situation. A consultation can help you understand whether the pattern of repairs, timing, and warranty status may support a lemon law claim. ZapLemon can review your repair history, warranty terms, and next steps. This information is general and not legal advice; an attorney must review your specific facts to give legal guidance.
Repeated daytime running light failures can be more than inconvenient—they can affect safety, value, and your confidence in the vehicle. California’s Lemon Law may apply when a warranty-covered defect isn’t fixed after a reasonable number of attempts or the vehicle is tied up in the shop. The best first steps are to document carefully, keep your repair paperwork organized, and learn your rights.
Need a case-specific review?
Use the case-review form to share the warranty, repair orders, dates, mileage, and supporting facts an attorney would need to evaluate, or call (877) 492-8282.
Attorney advertising. General information is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. No result is promised or guaranteed.