Can I Request a Vehicle Replacement for a Faulty New Car Battery?
3 Answers
Article 20 of the Three Guarantees Law stipulates that during the warranty period of a household automobile product, if the conditions for replacement or return as specified are met, the consumer may request replacement or return from the seller by presenting the Three Guarantees certificate, purchase invoice, and other relevant documents. Within 60 days from the date the seller issues the purchase invoice or within 3,000 kilometers of driving distance (whichever comes first), if the household automobile product experiences failure in the steering system, failure in the braking system, body cracking, or fuel leakage, and the consumer chooses to replace or return the vehicle, the seller shall be responsible for providing a free replacement or return. During the warranty period of the household automobile product, if any of the following situations occur and the consumer chooses to replace or return the vehicle, the seller shall be responsible for the replacement or return: 1. If the vehicle has undergone repairs twice for serious safety performance failures, and the failures persist or new serious safety performance failures arise. 2. If the engine or transmission has been replaced twice, or the same major component of the engine or transmission has been replaced twice due to quality issues, and the vehicle still cannot function normally (the replacement counts for the engine, transmission, and their major components are not cumulative). 3. If the same major component of the steering system, braking system, suspension system, front/rear axle, or body has been replaced twice due to quality issues, and the vehicle still cannot function normally. The major components of the steering system, braking system, suspension system, front/rear axle, and body shall be explicitly listed by the manufacturer on the Three Guarantees certificate, and their categories must comply with relevant national standards or regulations, with specific requirements to be further stipulated by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine. Article 21 states that during the warranty period of a household automobile product, if the cumulative repair time due to product quality issues exceeds 35 days, or if the same product quality issue has been repaired more than five times, the consumer may request a replacement from the seller by presenting the Three Guarantees certificate and purchase invoice. Your vehicle's situation does not meet the Three Guarantees Law's requirements for replacement or return. It is recommended that you negotiate with the 4S dealership.
With my extensive car-buying experience, I know whether battery issues qualify for a vehicle exchange depends on the warranty policy. According to China's 'Automobile Three Guarantees Regulation,' within 60 days or 3,000 kilometers of purchasing a new car, you can apply for an exchange or refund only if the vehicle experiences major failures like steering system malfunction or brake system failure, or if the same component remains defective after two repair attempts. As an easily worn part, the battery typically isn't classified as a major component, so issues may only warrant a battery replacement under warranty rather than a whole vehicle exchange. I recommend checking the warranty terms in your purchase contract to see the specific coverage period for the battery. If the battery fails immediately after delivery, try negotiating with the dealership by emphasizing safety concerns (e.g., failure to start). However, for minor issues, a battery replacement is usually the only solution—it's best to avoid initiating a full vehicle exchange process to save time.
I once bought a brand-new car, but the battery died in the second week. I was quite worried at the time and thought I could exchange the car. When I went to the 4S store to inquire, they checked and said the battery failed quality standards, so they replaced it for free without mentioning a car exchange. During the conversation, the maintenance technician mentioned that battery issues in new cars are quite common, often due to prolonged storage or insufficient charging at the factory. As a car owner, I believe it's important to first confirm whether it's just a faulty battery or if it affects the entire vehicle's functionality. If it's just a matter of the car not starting, replacing the battery usually solves the problem. However, it's crucial to record each occurrence of the issue. If the same problem persists after multiple repairs, then you might have grounds to request a car exchange. On forums, I've seen people share similar experiences, and most were resolved through negotiation. My advice is to communicate promptly to prevent minor issues from escalating.
