Pennsylvania Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under Pennsylvania Lemon Law

What Is the Pennsylvania Lemon Law? The Pennsylvania Lemon Law 73 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1951 et seq. provides statutory remedies to consumers who purchase or lease new motor vehicles that have substantial defects covered by the manufacturer’s written warranty and that cannot be repaired within a reasonable number of attempts. The law is intended to protect vehicle buyers from chronic defects that materially impair the use, value, or safety of a new vehicle. The statute sets time and mileage coverage limits, establishes presumptive thresholds that indicate when a vehicle may be a "lemon," and requires manufacturers to offer an arbitration process for resolving disputes. Under the Pennsylvania statute, the primary consumer remedies are replacement of the vehicle or a full refund. The law also provides a pathway to pursue additional claims under federal law, most importantly the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which can allow consumers to recover attorney fees and other damages in certain circumstances. For general information about state lemon laws and how they interact with federal warranty law, see our resource on What is the Lemon Law?/resources/what-is-the-lemon-law/. The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General enforces consumer protection laws and publishes guidance on warranty and lemon law related complaints. If you believe your new vehicle is a lemon, you can consult the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s consumer protection pages for complaint submission options and consumer tips see https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/consumer-protection/. Which Vehicles Qualify Under Pennsylvania Lemon Law? Pennsylvania’s Lemon Law applies only to new motor vehicles that are sold or leased for personal use and that are still within the statutory coverage period. Specifically, coverage generally lasts for the earlier of 12 months from the date of delivery to the original purchaser or the first 12,000 miles of operation. The law covers passenger vehicles, including cars, light trucks, and certain other motor vehicles that are covered by the manufacturer’s written warranty. Used vehicles are expressly not covered by the Pennsylvania Lemon Law. If you purchased a used vehicle, consumer protections may still be available under common-law causes of action such as fraud or breach of contract or under state consumer protection statutes in limited circumstances, but the specific remedies and presumptions of the Lemon Law do not apply to used vehicles. It is important to confirm whether your vehicle is registered and was delivered within Pennsylvania, as state statutory application can depend on residency and where the vehicle was purchased or principally used. For dispute resolution procedures and additional consumer protections, consult the Attorney General’s office at https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/consumer-protection/. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania law establishes objective thresholds th