A BRIEF GUIDE TO PENSYLVANIA’S LEMON LAW

In Pennsylvania, purchasing a new car is an investment; therefore, customers anticipate their new car will be reasonably safe and functional. Unfortunately, some automakers manufacture “lemons” or vehicles with serious manufacturing flaws that compromise their safety and value. All states, including Pennsylvania, have lemon laws leveling the playing field for customers seeking recompense from well-known automakers and dealers. 

In addition to the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, each state has its version of lemon laws intended to safeguard customers. But if you result with a lemon car or truck in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to know the state’s lemon law and hire a lawyer to help you deal with your faulty vehicle. Below are more details:

PA lemon law in a nutshell

The state’s lemon legislation guards consumers against purchasing or leasing brand-new cars with flaws that significantly reduce their value, function, and safety. As long as the original manufacturer’s warranty covers the issues, the manufacturer is obligated by Pennsylvania’s Lemon Law to fix the car or truck’s issues. The buyer must report the problem within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Any vehicle purchase or lease originally registered in Pennsylvania and out-of-state purchases or leases of vehicles are subject to the state’s lemon law. The cars must be used for domestic, family, and personal transportation of up to 15 passengers. Motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and motorhomes are exempt from the Lemon legislation.

According to the PA lemon law, a “purchaser” is someone who has purchased or received title to a vehicle or has signed a contract to buy a new car for personal, family, or household use. The buyer must remain the legal owner and possessor of the defective vehicle while making a lemon law claim.

Vehicles covered in the PA lemon law

Lemon law protections are available to anyone who purchases or leases a car in Pennsylvania and registers the vehicle with the state. The legislation of the law states that a car is a lemon if:

• Has a flaw or flaws specifically covered by the manufacturer’s warranty
• It has severe flaws that compromise the car’s usability, market value, or safety on the road
• Has a flaw that wasn’t caused by misuse, negligence, or alterations made by anyone outside the manufacturer or an authorized dealer
• The car was reported as defective within the necessary Pennsylvania Lemon Law claims period of 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.

While consumer protections like lemon laws exist, they cover not all types of damages. In Pennsylvania, the statute only takes effect in certain situations. For instance, a problem that directly results from the owner’s carelessness will not be covered by the lemon law.

Consumer rights protection per PA Lemon law

Consumers in Pennsylvania have the following rights under the state’s lemon law:

• Request that the manufacturer replace the car or truck with a comparable model
• Oblige the manufacturer to repurchase the car from you at the original price, plus taxes, finance charges, and registration fees.

The takeaway

You can consult a lemon law attorney if you believe you purchased a lemon car.