Amazon is Selling Defective Cars, According to Lawmakers

A group of U.S. lawmakers is putting a spotlight on Amazon for selling cars with open safety recalls. 

“We are extremely troubled by the fact that Amazon is listing vehicles for sale with unrepaired safety recalls,” the group, led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), said in a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. “Selling cars with unrepaired safety recalls is extremely dangerous and poses a potentially fatal threat to vehicle drivers, passengers, and others on the road.”

The letter comes months after Amazon began allowing Hyundai dealers to list cars for sale on Amazon Autos. The company later extended the arrangement to certified pre-owned vehicles sold by Ford dealers. Amazon does not require dealers to address safety recalls before listing cars for sale. It also does not require dealers to disclose that vehicles are covered by open recalls.

“Amazon lists for sale—and appears to have facilitated the sale of—vehicles with unrepaired recalls, including urgent fire risks and a potential engine stall while driving,” the lawmakers said. 

Ford is by far the most recalled automaker in the country. The manufacturer by August 2025 broke the record for total number of recalls in a year - more than 100, and climbing - shattering the mark set by General Motors more than a decade earlier. 

The company recently announced it is recalling a small number of vehicles, citing a software problem that could cause the cars to unexpectedly slip into neutral. Ford called back about 165,000 Bronco sport utility vehicles because of a problem with their front seats a month earlier.

Hyundai drivers have also seen their share of safety hazards. The company last year recalled 39,000 SUVs, citing a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning defect that it said may increase the risk of fires. The company called back another 250,000 Kia vehicles near the end of the year, citing separate fire risks from a fuel tank defect.

Car dealers are already required to address open recalls on new vehicles before they can be sold. Automakers often issue “stop sale” notices to dealers when recalls are announced, instructing dealers not to let the cars leave lots until they are repaired. 

The legal obligation does not extend to used vehicles. At least 40% of used cars being offered for sale are covered by one or more open recalls that have not been addressed, according to research from the Consumer Federation of America.

How the California Lemon Law Works

The good news for car owners in California is that you have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.

The lemon law requires carmakers to perform a wide range of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces the companies to buy back (or replace, in some cases) covered vehicles that they are not able or flat out refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car costs, and other related expenses.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must happen before the buyback or replace requirement kicks in. That is one reason why it is important to consult an experienced California lemon law attorney.

Talk with a Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a Los Angeles lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a Los Angeles lemon law attorney.