Stalling, No-Start & Sudden Power Loss

Stalling has many causes — failing fuel pumps, faulty control modules, wiring and ground faults, and software that shuts the engine down in response to a sensor fault. Several manufacturers have issued large recalls specifically because a fuel pump or control module can quit and cause a loss of drive power without warning.

What makes stalling so difficult is that it's often intermittent. The car dies on the freeway, you get it towed in, and the dealer can't reproduce it — so it goes home unrepaired, and the cycle repeats. Owners frequently describe being afraid to merge onto a freeway or drive with their kids in the car.

Stalling in traffic is a serious safety defect, and California applies a stricter standard to those: fewer failed repair attempts are required to qualify. If your vehicle keeps stalling or won't reliably start, you may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement — with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees.

California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) applies when a substantial defect can't be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days. For serious safety defects, fewer failed attempts are required.

If your vehicle qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement. The manufacturer pays your attorney fees on a successful claim — so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.