Glossary · Law and contract
Liability for defects (Mängelhaftung)
The seller's duty to answer for defects that already existed at the time of sale.
Each country sets how long it lasts and whether it may be excluded. In private sales it is often excluded by contract, but usually not for defects the seller fraudulently concealed. Anyone who discovers a defect must, in many countries, report it within a deadline.
Where it appears in the report
The deadline and limits of liability for defects are shown per country on the defects page, with a deadline calculator.
Common questions about it
Does sold as seen always apply?
No. An exclusion usually does not protect a seller who knew about a defect and concealed it.
Related terms in the glossary
Last updated: 2026-09-15