Many car products are marketed as must-haves, but the reality is often different. Some seemingly helpful items can wreak havoc on your vehicle, causing everything like paint damage and performance issues. Here is a list of 15 popular car products that might be doing more harm than good, saving you time, money, and headaches in the long run.

Seat Belt Adjusters

Seat belt adjusters claim to improve comfort by repositioning your seatbelt. Still, they can compromise safety. By altering the seatbelt’s angle, these devices can prevent the belt from functioning properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. The discomfort caused by an incorrectly positioned seatbelt may also distract you from driving.

Dashboard Phone Holders

While dashboard phone holders promise hands-free convenience, the suction cup variety often loses grip over time, especially in hot or cold weather. These holders can fall unexpectedly and create distractions. Worse, if your phone detaches while driving, you’ll be tempted to grab it, which can take your attention away from the road.

Fuel Additives

Many fuel additives claim to improve engine performance or increase fuel efficiency, but the truth is that most modern cars don’t benefit from these additives. They can sometimes damage engine components and cause costly repairs. Moreover, today’s engines are designed to work optimally with standard gasoline.

Cheap Car Covers

While a car cover may seem like a great way to protect your vehicle from the elements, low-quality covers can trap moisture, leading to rust and mildew buildup. Cheap materials can also scratch your paint, especially when wind causes the cover to flap. If you do choose a car cover, it’s important to invest in one made from breathable material.

Chrome Wheel Covers

Chrome wheel covers are marketed as a way to give your car an upgraded look without the cost of real chrome wheels. However, these covers often don’t fit securely. Over time, this can lead to rust or damage to your actual wheels. Worse, if they come loose, they could create a dangerous situation for you or other drivers on the road.

Aftermarket Headlight Bulbs

Bright, aftermarket headlight bulbs may promise better visibility, but they often cause more harm than good. Many of these bulbs are not DOT-approved and can be too bright for oncoming traffic and cause a blinding glare. Sticking with the manufacturer-recommended bulbs ensures better performance and safety.

Cheap Backup Cameras

Backup cameras are essential for reversing safely. You need to take note that inexpensive aftermarket options often come with poor-quality displays or lagging video feeds, which makes them unreliable. In some cases, cheap cameras may not function well in low-light conditions, yet this is exactly when you need them most. 

Steering Wheel Covers

Most steering wheel covers are made of cheap materials that wear out fast. They can become slippery over time, reducing your grip on the wheel. In extreme weather, covers made of synthetic materials can crack or become unbearably hot. This makes driving uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. 

Portable Tire Inflators

Usually, low-cost tire inflators are inefficient and unreliable. Under-inflated tires can affect your car’s handling and fuel efficiency because they take longer to inflate and may not reach the required PSI. Some units can even overheat during use, which poses a fire risk. 

Over-the-Seat Organizers

Over-the-seat organizers are advertised as a way to keep your car tidy, though they often end up contributing to the clutter. These organizers easily turn into storage spots for miscellaneous items. Additionally, in the event of an accident, unsecured objects within the organizer could become hazardous by flying forward.

Cheap Air Fresheners

Who doesn’t love a car that smells amazing? However, those bargain air fresheners might be doing more harm than good. Packed with chemicals, they can trigger sneezes or asthma, and worse, they might even leave your dashboard looking less than fresh. Why not switch it up with something natural, like essential oil diffusers or charcoal bags?

Universal Car Mats

Universal car mats are like those one-size-fits-all hats—they never actually fit anyone right. Instead of protecting your floors, they leave bits uncovered and slide around like they’re trying to make a break for it. Before you know it, they’re playing hide-and-seek under your pedals, which is definitely not a game you want while driving.

Window Tint Films

A DIY window tint job is an affordable way to darken your windows. However, the films often peel or bubble over time. Improperly applied tints can make your car look worse and reduce visibility. Some cheap tints may also not meet legal standards for your state, resulting in fines. 

Interior LED Light Strips

LED light strips often come with more trouble than they’re worth. The cheap ones can drain your battery, and over time, the adhesive tends to lose its grip and leave strips dangling awkwardly. Worse still, poorly placed lights can turn your night drives into a distracting, glowing mess, which makes things less safe than they should be.

Car Door Edge Guards

These are meant to protect your car’s paint from dings and scratches when opening your doors. While the idea seems practical, poorly fitting edge guards can loosen over time, leading to rattling noises and even falling off while driving. Some low-quality guards may also trap dirt and moisture underneath, leading to rust on the door edges.