There are a few things that can cause a car stereo to suddenly stop working, but it’s hard to say exactly what the problem is without a bit more information. For example, it could be as simple as a blown fuse if the display doesn’t come on, or it could be an antenna problem if the radio portion doesn’t work but other audio sources (such as CD players) do.

Below are some common issues and possible solutions.

If you get in your car one day and the radio won't turn on at all, it's probably a power or ground problem. The best place to start is by checking the fuses.

If you find a blown fuse, try replacing it and then drive around for a while to see if it blows again. If it does, you have a short somewhere that will probably be a little harder to fix.