Pennsylvania Lemon Law (PA)

Qualifying Criteria in Pennsylvania

Under Pennsylvania's lemon law, your vehicle may qualify as a lemon if it meets the following criteria:

• Vehicle type: New and certain used motor vehicles purchased or leased in Pennsylvania
• Defect type: A nonconformity that substantially impairs the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle and is covered under the manufacturer's warranty
• Coverage period: The defect must occur within 1 year of delivery or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first
• Repair attempts: The manufacturer or authorized dealer must have attempted to repair the same defect at least 3 times, or the vehicle must have been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days

Manufacturer Obligations

Must repair the nonconformity. If unable, must replace or refund. Pennsylvania's Bureau of Consumer Protection administers the program.

Available Remedies

If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Pennsylvania law, you are entitled to:

• Replacement vehicle
• Full refund minus reasonable use allowance

The "reasonable use allowance" deduction is typically calculated based on the mileage you accumulated before the first repair attempt, proportional to the vehicle's expected lifetime mileage. This ensures the manufacturer is not paying for use you already received from the vehicle.

Step-by-Step Filing Process in Pennsylvania

Follow these steps if you believe your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Pennsylvania law:

1. 1 Report the defect to the authorized dealer and allow repair attempts
2. 2 Allow at least 3 repair attempts for the same defect, or 30+ calendar days out of service
3. 3 Deliver written notice to the manufacturer by certified mail using the state form
4. 4 Allow manufacturer a final repair attempt (10 business days)
5. 5 File with the PA Lemon Law program if the final attempt fails

Arbitration in Pennsylvania

Consumer must use the manufacturer's state-certified arbitration program, or may file directly with the PA Bureau of Consumer Protection's Lemon Law Arbitration Program.

Important: In Pennsylvania, arbitration is a required step before you can file a lawsuit. This means you must exhaust the arbitration process first. The arbitration decision may or may not be binding depending on the specific program. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you typically have the right to appeal or file a civil action in court.

Filing Deadline

Within the warranty period, 1 year, or 12,000 miles from delivery.

Missing the filing deadline can forfeit your rights under the lemon law. Keep detailed records of every repair visit, including dates, mileage, descriptions of the problem, and copies of all repair orders and receipts. This documentation will be critical for your claim.

Additional Notes

Pennsylvania also has a used car lemon law covering vehicles purchased from dealers (up to $2 refund per mile for first 2,500 miles). The state runs its own arbitration program. Covers new vehicles registered in Pennsylvania.