My Vehicle Has an Oil Leak Right After a Routine Oil Change

You’re a smart and responsible car owner who keeps up with routine vehicle maintenance, such as regular oil changes. But after yesterday’s oil change, you’ve found evidence of an oil leak on your driveway.

Your first thought when discovering an oil leak after an oil change is probably that someone screwed up at the dealership or oil change station. However, this could be a bigger problem. A recurring oil leak could be a design or manufacturing defect. And if it’s an uncorrectable flaw, it could warrant a Lemon Law claim.

In California, a car is a lemon if it has a significant issue covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty that has not been resolved despite repeated repair attempts by the manufacturer or their authorized service center. The vehicle’s problem must substantially impair its safety, usability, or value – all factors that could be impacted by a continuous oil leak.

Have you discovered an oil leak in your new car that the authorized dealership has been unable to resolve? If you have, The Barry Law Firm may be able to help you pursue a Lemon Law claim. You could be eligible for a Lemon Law buyback, where the faulty vehicle’s manufacturer refunds your purchase or lease price plus associated ownership costs and losses due to your car’s problems.

Call or reach out online today to schedule your FAST & FREE consultation with The Barry Law Firm about a potential Lemon Law claim.

Why Is My Car Leaking Oil After an Oil Change?

An oil leak after an oil change could be human error. Someone might have failed to tighten the oil filter or drain plug, forgotten to remove the old oil filter gasket before installing the new one, or made some other careless mistake. If so, when you take your car back, they’ll correct the error, and the problem should be solved.

But if the oil leak persists, you still have a problem. If you go back and forth with this repeatedly and the oil leak continues, you may have a lemon car.

Causes of leaking oil that might be design flaws or manufacturing defects that could warrant a Lemon Law claim include:

• Faulty gasket and seals
• Defective oil filter
• Faulty or damaged oil filter housing or oil pan
• Faulty timing cover design
• Poorly engineered fastening systems
• Damage to parts during assembly
• Improperly installed components
• Flawed engine design

Signs That Your Car Has an Oil Leak

You should have your vehicle checked for an oil leak if you notice:

• Oil spots where it has been parked
• Smoky exhaust emissions (caused by leaked oil burning or smoldering)
• Burning oil smells
• Oil level dropping quickly, as indicated by the dashboard oil pressure light or dipstick checks
• Overheated engine

Does an Oil Leak After a Routine Oil Change Make My Car a Lemon?

If you have recently had your car’s oil changed and now it is leaking oil, in most cases, this is an issue that can be corrected where you had the oil changed. But in some cases, an oil leak can be a recurring problem or a bigger issue that cannot be fixed. There are a few conditions the vehicle must meet in order to be covered under California’s Lemon Law, though.

Substantial Defect

The oil leak must substantially impair the vehicle’s safety, use, or value. An unresolved oil leak can cause a variety of problems, including accelerated wear and tear on engine components and eventually engine failure. These consequences can significantly reduce the vehicle’s value and potentially its use as reliable transportation. An oil leak may also be a fire hazard if oil comes into contact with a hot engine component, such as the exhaust manifold – a major safety issue.

Manufacturer’s Warranty

The vehicle must still be covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty. If the warranty has expired, then it must have been in force when you first took your car in to fix the oil leak. The warranty must also cover the defect that is causing the recurring oil leak.

Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts

A recurring oil leak could qualify your vehicle as a lemon if it has not been resolved after you have given the manufacturer (typically through an authorized dealership or service center) a reasonable number of opportunities to repair it.

What’s considered a “reasonable number” of repairs can vary from case to case. If the defect poses a significant danger, California Lemon Law typically considers two or more attempts to fix the problem as reasonable. The manufacturer may be entitled to more than two attempts to repair less severe problems. In certain circumstances, your vehicle may automatically qualify as a lemon if it is out of service for an inordinate amount of time.

What Should I Do If My Vehicle Is Experiencing Recurring Oil Leaks?

It’s always good practice to keep service orders, invoices, and receipts from work done on your car, including oil changes. These documents will be helpful if you need to file a Lemon Law claim. If you find yourself dealing with a recurring problem, these documents will show your repeated efforts to have it repaired.

After the first unsuccessful attempt to have an oil leak resolved, you should start keeping track of this specific issue, including subsequent repair attempts, any communications with the dealership, and all of your out-of-pocket costs, such as for oil or dealing with a breakdown.

You should also speak to a California Lemon Law attorney. Pursuing a Lemon Law claim is a complicated, multi-step process that a lawyer experienced with the Lemon Law in California can guide you through.

You can expect your vehicle’s manufacturer to challenge your Lemon Law claim, regardless of its validity. They may argue that oil leaks are not covered by the warranty or are not serious enough to warrant a buyback. Or they may claim that you caused your car’s oil leak, such as by not keeping up with routine oil changes or installing aftermarket parts. Having an experienced Lemon Law attorney in your corner can make it an even fight.

The Barry Law Firm Can Answer Your Questions About a Potential Lemon Vehicle

If you have a car under the manufacturer’s warranty that has a recurring oil leak that the manufacturer hasn’t been able to fix after multiple tries, contact The Barry Law Firm about the potential for pursuing a Lemon Law claim. We have focused exclusively on Lemon Law claims since 2010, obtaining justice for thousands of car owners and lessees from across California who have been saddled with faulty vehicles.

If your car qualifies as a lemon under California law, our Lemon Law attorneys will aggressively press your vehicle’s manufacturer to make restitution to you. And because the Lemon Law requires manufacturers to pay your legal costs with a successful claim, we’ll never charge you anything – no matter the outcome of your case.

Call The Barry Law Firm or reach out online today for a FAST & FREE legal consultation.