You’ve just bought a brand-new car. You’re excited to try out all the cool features listed on the sticker, but when you get home, you realize something is missing. The button for the heated steering wheel isn’t there, or the infotainment system isn’t a touchscreen. This isn’t a mistake; it’s a practice known as “de-featuring,” and it became incredibly common during the recent global chip shortage. But what is de-featuring in new cars, and how can you, the buyer, protect yourself?
De-featuring, also known as “content reduction,” is when an automaker decides to build and sell a vehicle without certain options or features that would normally be standard. This is a desperate measure taken to keep assembly lines running when a specific part often a single semiconductor chip is unavailable.
Instead of halting production entirely, the company will build the car without the affected feature and sell it anyway, sometimes with a small discount and a promise to retrofit the part later. This article explains what de-featuring is, which features are most commonly affected, and what you need to check before driving off the lot.
Why De-Featuring Became the New Normal
The automotive industry has historically operated on a “just-in-time” manufacturing philosophy, where parts are delivered to the factory exactly when they’re needed. This is efficient but extremely vulnerable to disruption. The global semiconductor shortage broke this system, leaving automakers with a terrible choice: stop building cars altogether, or build them with whatever parts they could get.
They chose the latter. The logic was simple: it’s better to sell a car that’s 99% complete than no car at all. A single missing chip for a non-critical feature, like a wireless charging pad, could hold up a $50,000 vehicle. De-featuring allowed automakers to keep generating revenue and get cars to dealerships that were desperate for inventory. While it was a pragmatic business decision, it created a confusing and often frustrating situation for consumers, a direct consequence of the impact of the chip shortage on the auto industry.
Which Features Are Most Commonly “De-Featured”?
The features that get cut are typically those that are non-essential for the car’s basic operation but still require one or more semiconductor chips. While the exact list varies by manufacturer, some of the most commonly removed features during the peak of the crisis included:
- Comfort and Convenience:
- Heated and ventilated seats
- Heated steering wheels
- Wireless phone charging pads
- Lumbar support adjustment for passenger seats
- Infotainment:
- Touchscreen functionality (with the system relying only on a control knob)
- Premium audio system components
- Built-in navigation systems
- HD Radio
- Advanced Safety Features:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Parking assist sensors
According to a running list compiled by CarExpert, dozens of models from top brands like BMW, Ford, GM, and Mercedes-Benz were affected, with features being removed or made optional.
How to Protect Yourself as a Car Buyer
While the worst of the chip shortage has passed, supply chain issues can still pop up, and de-featuring remains a tool automakers can use. Here’s what you need to do before you buy:
- Verify the Window Sticker (Monroney Label): This is the official label on the car’s window that lists all standard and optional equipment. Carefully read it and compare it to the features you see inside the car. Sometimes, a credit for a missing feature will be noted on the sticker.
- Ask the Dealer Directly: Be specific. Ask your salesperson: “Have any features been temporarily removed from this specific vehicle due to supply issues?” Get the answer in writing if possible.
- Test Everything: During your test drive, don’t just focus on how the car drives. Physically test the features. Turn on the heated seats, use the touchscreen, and check for the safety alerts you expect.
- Understand Retrofitting Promises: If a feature is missing and the dealer promises to install it later, get that promise in writing. Understand the timeline and what happens if the part never becomes available.
By being an informed buyer, you can ensure the new car you’re paying for has all the features you expect.