Faults
Common faults on a new car
A new car is no guarantee that nothing will happen in the first year. Usually it is small stuff: an odd creak, an unfamiliar warning light, a temperamental battery after a long time parked. What matters is telling apart what you can check yourself from what should go to the workshop under warranty — and documenting it properly.
A defect recorded with the date and mileage becomes a fact; a defect you merely remember remains a guess.
We describe simple actions that need no tools or dismantling. Do not repair a car under warranty yourself: tampering can become grounds for refusing warranty work. Check the meaning of warning lights and what to do in your owner's manual.
It happens to new cars too
A rattle has appeared in the cabin
Try to locate it: the glovebox, a door panel, a seat belt, items in the pockets. If the noise persists after you have emptied the storage spaces, record a video with sound and show it to the technician at your next visit.
A warning light has come on
Look up the symbol in the manual: the colour usually indicates urgency. A red light means stop somewhere safe and find out the cause; an amber one means have the car checked by a workshop soon. Take a photo of the dashboard showing the mileage.
The battery runs flat when I rarely drive
A modern car draws a little power even when parked, and short trips do not have time to replace it. If you drive for a few minutes once a week, the battery can go flat. If it keeps happening, have it checked at a workshop: it may be down to how the car is used, or it may be a defect.
The steering wheel vibrates after a tyre change
The most common cause is wheel balancing or wheel nuts tightened unevenly. Go back to the tyre shop and ask them to check. If the vibration remains, a workshop will check the wheel alignment and suspension.
There is a strong new-car smell
Interior trim materials give off a smell at first, and it gradually fades. Air the cabin often and do not leave the car in the sun for long with the windows closed. If the smell is sharp, chemical or appears suddenly, have the car checked by a workshop.
The tyre pressure monitoring system has triggered
Stop, inspect the wheels and check the pressures with a gauge at the nearest filling station. After inflating or changing wheels the system sometimes needs resetting — the procedure is in the manual. If the warning comes back, look for a puncture.
How to record a defect for a warranty claim
Write down the circumstances
Date, time, mileage, weather, speed and what you were doing at the moment. Details like these help the technician reproduce the problem.
Take photos and video
Show the defect itself and the instrument panel with the mileage. For noises, record video with sound; for warning lights, photograph the dashboard with the ignition on.
Check the documents
Check the warranty terms and the service book to see whether the warranty covers this part and whether the servicing requirements have been met.
Contact the seller in writing
Describe the defect in a written complaint or request and keep a copy marked as received. A verbal request over the phone is hard to prove.
Keep the work order
When you visit the workshop, ask for a document describing the complaint, the diagnostic result and the work done. Make sure the wording of the complaint matches yours.
Keep a timeline
If the defect recurs, keep all your complaints in one folder in date order. In Russia, the procedure for claims on technically complex goods is set by Article 18 of the Consumer Protection Law — read it together with your contract. Other countries have their own consumer rules.
Read next
- First months
The first months with a new car: running-in by the manual, the service book, preparing for the first service and seasonal tyres.
- Questions
Answers to common questions about this guide, the paperwork when buying and the first year of owning a new car.
- Buying
What to do before signing the contract, which add-ons you can turn down and how to take delivery of the car without rushing.
Sources
- Russian Federation Law on Consumer Protection
- Vehicle owner's manual and service book (general provisions)
Information on laws and regulations reflects the versions in force when the material was prepared. Rules change over time, and every manufacturer sets its own warranty and service terms, so before any important decision check the current texts, your contract and your vehicle's documents.