Key takeaways
- Protection period: one year after delivery, the first 12,000 miles, or the warranty term, whichever occurs first. For motorcycles, one year or the warranty term, whichever occurs first.
- Repair attempts: same nonconformity subject to repair three times and it still exists. For motorcycles, manufacturer-sourced parts must have been used, and attempts generally must be made at the same authorized facility or with full repair records provided.
- Days out of service: cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days out of service due to any nonconformity.
- The law is Act of Mar. 28, 1984, P.L. 150, No. 28, as amended (73 P.S. §§ 1951 to 1963). Read it with your repair orders and your warranty in front of you.
On this page
Pennsylvania's lemon law is Act of Mar. 28, 1984, P.L. 150, No. 28, as amended (73 P.S. §§ 1951 to 1963), the Automobile Lemon Law. It gives owners a remedy when the manufacturer can't fix a warranty defect after a fair chance. This page sums up the main rules as written in the statute, with links to the official text. Use it to check your dates and your repair visits, then talk to a lawyer about your own records.
Pennsylvania lemon law at a glance
| Statute | Act of Mar. 28, 1984, P.L. 150, No. 28, as amended (73 P.S. §§ 1951 to 1963) |
|---|---|
| Official name | Automobile Lemon Law |
| Vehicles covered | New self-propelled vehicles designed to carry not more than 15 people, purchased or leased and registered in Pennsylvania (or first registered there), used primarily for personal, family or household purposes, including demonstrators. Motorcycles are included since a 2024 amendment. Motor homes, off-road vehicles and dual sport motorcycles driven off road are excluded. |
| Leased vehicles | Yes, leased vehicles are covered. |
| Protection period | One year after delivery, the first 12,000 miles, or the warranty term, whichever occurs first. For motorcycles, one year or the warranty term, whichever occurs first. |
| Repair attempts | Same nonconformity subject to repair three times and it still exists. For motorcycles, manufacturer-sourced parts must have been used, and attempts generally must be made at the same authorized facility or with full repair records provided. |
| Days out of service | Cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days out of service due to any nonconformity. |
| Notice to the manufacturer | The purchaser must deliver the vehicle to the manufacturer's authorized repair facility in Pennsylvania; written notice counts as delivery if the vehicle cannot be brought in. The dealer must notify the manufacturer by certified mail within seven days when the vehicle comes in a second time for the same nonconformity. The act does not require a separate final repair notice from the consumer. |
| Dispute programs | If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with 16 CFR Part 703, the purchaser must use it before suing. The decision is not binding on the purchaser, who may then sue. No state-run program. |
| Remedies | At the purchaser's option, a comparable vehicle of equal value or a refund of the full purchase or lease price including all collateral charges, less a use allowance (for use before the first report) not exceeding 10 cents per mile or 10 percent of the price, whichever is less. Refunds must be paid within 30 days of the election. |
| Attorney's fees | Yes. A purchaser who sues for the manufacturer's failure to comply is entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and all court costs. |
| Used vehicles | No used-car lemon law. The purchaser definition includes successors and assigns and anyone who obtained the new vehicle by transfer, but the defect must occur within the first year, 12,000 miles or warranty term. |
Does your vehicle qualify in Pennsylvania?
The law covers new self-propelled vehicles designed to carry not more than 15 people, purchased or leased and registered in Pennsylvania (or first registered there), used primarily for personal, family or household purposes, including demonstrators. Motorcycles are included since a 2024 amendment. Motor homes, off-road vehicles and dual sport motorcycles driven off road are excluded. The protection period is one year after delivery, the first 12,000 miles, or the warranty term, whichever occurs first. For motorcycles, one year or the warranty term, whichever occurs first. Inside that window, the statute presumes the manufacturer has had a fair chance to fix the problem when one of these is true:
- Repeated repairs: Same nonconformity subject to repair three times and it still exists. For motorcycles, manufacturer-sourced parts must have been used, and attempts generally must be made at the same authorized facility or with full repair records provided.
- Days out of service: Cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days out of service due to any nonconformity.
As with most lemon laws, the defect generally has to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty and serious enough to substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety; check the statute's exact wording. Count only visits for the same problem, and check each repair order for your complaint, the dates in and out, and the mileage. See what counts as a repair attempt.
Notice, dispute programs and deadlines
The purchaser must deliver the vehicle to the manufacturer's authorized repair facility in Pennsylvania; written notice counts as delivery if the vehicle cannot be brought in. The dealer must notify the manufacturer by certified mail within seven days when the vehicle comes in a second time for the same nonconformity. The act does not require a separate final repair notice from the consumer.
If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with 16 CFR Part 703, the purchaser must use it before suing. The decision is not binding on the purchaser, who may then sue. No state-run program.
State resource: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Deadlines can run out before you expect, and contacting a lawyer does not stop them. Read more about lemon law deadlines and notice to the manufacturer.
Questions about your vehicle's repair history?
Tell us what has happened with your vehicle. A member of our team will look at your dates and repair orders with you. Reaching out does not create an attorney-client relationship.
What you can recover
At the purchaser's option, a comparable vehicle of equal value or a refund of the full purchase or lease price including all collateral charges, less a use allowance (for use before the first report) not exceeding 10 cents per mile or 10 percent of the price, whichever is less. Refunds must be paid within 30 days of the election. Yes. A purchaser who sues for the manufacturer's failure to comply is entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and all court costs. Many claims are also resolved by a negotiated settlement. See buyback and replacement.
Federal warranty law also applies
The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 2301–2312) applies in every state. It covers written and implied warranties on consumer products, including vehicles, and it can help when a vehicle falls outside Pennsylvania's lemon law, for example some used vehicles sold with a warranty or a service contract.
Talk to us about your Pennsylvania vehicle
SkyRidge Law P.C. reviews lemon law questions from owners in every state. Lawyers may practice only where they are licensed or otherwise authorized, so before you sign anything we tell you which lawyer would handle your case and where that lawyer is licensed. Send us your repair history and we will look at your dates with you.
Frequently asked questions
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Pennsylvania?
Under Act of Mar. 28, 1984, P.L. 150, No. 28, as amended (73 P.S. §§ 1951 to 1963), the presumption is met when same nonconformity subject to repair three times and it still exists. For motorcycles, manufacturer-sourced parts must have been used, and attempts generally must be made at the same authorized facility or with full repair records provided. The law also counts time in the shop: cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days out of service due to any nonconformity.
Does the Pennsylvania lemon law cover used cars?
No used-car lemon law. The purchaser definition includes successors and assigns and anyone who obtained the new vehicle by transfer, but the defect must occur within the first year, 12,000 miles or warranty term. Even when the state lemon law does not apply, a used vehicle sold with a written warranty or a service contract may have rights under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Does the Pennsylvania lemon law cover leased vehicles?
Yes, leased vehicles are covered. Lease buybacks usually involve both you and the leasing company, so keep your lease agreement with your repair orders.
Do I have to notify the manufacturer in Pennsylvania?
The purchaser must deliver the vehicle to the manufacturer's authorized repair facility in Pennsylvania; written notice counts as delivery if the vehicle cannot be brought in. The dealer must notify the manufacturer by certified mail within seven days when the vehicle comes in a second time for the same nonconformity. The act does not require a separate final repair notice from the consumer. Keep a copy of anything you send and proof of delivery.
Do I have to go to arbitration in Pennsylvania?
If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with 16 CFR Part 703, the purchaser must use it before suing. The decision is not binding on the purchaser, who may then sue. No state-run program.
Can I recover attorney's fees under the Pennsylvania lemon law?
Yes. A purchaser who sues for the manufacturer's failure to comply is entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and all court costs. We explain exactly how fees work in your case before you sign anything.