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.
High-beam assist (sometimes called automatic high beams) is meant to make night driving safer by switching between high and low beams on its own. When it glitches—staying on and blinding oncoming drivers, failing to activate on dark roads, or throwing constant “unavailable” warnings—it can feel both annoying and unsafe. This article explains, in plain language, how California’s Lemon Law can apply to faulty high-beam assist systems and what steps you can take to document the problem. It’s informational only and not legal advice; if you need guidance for your situation, consider contacting ZapLemon for a consultation.
What the California Lemon Law Covers for High-Beam Assist
California’s Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act) generally protects consumers when a vehicle has a defect covered by the manufacturer’s warranty that substantially impairs the car’s use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer or its dealers can’t fix it after a reasonable number of attempts. High-beam assist is part of your vehicle’s lighting and driver-assistance systems, and issues with it can raise safety concerns—especially if the system stays stuck on high beams, fails to illuminate on dark roads, or behaves unpredictably. Coverage can apply to vehicles sold or leased new in California, and sometimes to used vehicles still under the original manufacturer’s warranty.
What counts as a “reasonable number of repair attempts” depends on the facts, but California’s Lemon Law includes a legal presumption that may apply within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles. As a general guideline, the presumption can be triggered by multiple repair attempts for the same problem, certain safety-related defects with fewer attempts, or if the vehicle sits in the shop for an extended time, such as 30 or more cumulative days. Not every case fits the presumption, and you don’t need the presumption to have a claim—it’s just one path recognized by the law.
If your high-beam assist defect qualifies, potential remedies can include a repurchase (buyback), a replacement vehicle, or, in some circumstances, a negotiated cash-and-keep resolution. The right remedy varies and depends on warranty coverage, repair history, and the nature of the defect. Because the details matter—software updates vs. hardware replacement, intermittent versus constant failures—it’s wise to review your documentation with a professional. ZapLemon can explain options specific to your circumstances in a consultation.
How to Document High-Beam Assist Problems
Start by keeping a simple log. Each time the high-beam assist acts up, note the date, time, mileage, driving conditions (speed, road type, lighting, traffic), weather, and exactly what happened—did the high beams fail to come on, stay on too long, or toggle rapidly? If it’s safe to do so, brief video clips or dashcam footage can help demonstrate the behavior, especially for intermittent issues. Be careful to avoid distracted driving; capturing a photo of a dashboard warning after you’ve parked is often sufficient.
When you take the car to the dealer, describe the problem clearly and ask that your words be written on the repair order (for example, “Customer states high-beam assist fails to engage on unlit highways and remains on when traffic approaches”). Request copies of all repair orders and invoices, even when the dealer finds “no trouble found” or performs a software update. It’s helpful to have the software version numbers, any technical service bulletins (TSBs) applied, the dates the vehicle was in the shop, and the mileage in and out—those details help establish repeated repair attempts and total days out of service.
Avoid clearing codes or resetting the system before service visits; the dealership’s diagnostics can be more revealing if fault data is intact. If the problem persists, consider contacting the manufacturer to open a case number, and save all emails or texts with the dealer or manufacturer. Check your owner’s manual and warranty booklet for coverage terms and any dispute resolution program the manufacturer offers. And remember: aftermarket lighting changes or unrelated electrical modifications can complicate diagnosis, so mention any add-ons the vehicle has to help the technician isolate the high-beam assist issue.
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Attorney advertising. General information is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. No result is promised or guaranteed.