Lemon Law FAQ | AutoLaws.com

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What Is Lemon Law?

A lemon law is a law that protects consumers if a manufacturer breaches their warranty. Every state has a different lemon law, and it’s important to understand the law that applies to you.

What Qualifies as a Lemon?

A lemon is any vehicle with an intermittent, irreparable defect that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. If you’ve bought a new car and have tried to repair it multiple times for the same issue, you probably have a lemon.

Your car has to meet the following criteria to be called a lemon:

A newly purchased or leased vehicle for personal, family, or household purposes
Undergone a reasonable number of repair attempts
The issue must be reported within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles of the purchase

Does the Car Have to be New?

According to Pennsylvania lemon law, you have to purchase or lease the vehicle as new to qualify. However, you can pursue your lemon law claim years after you’ve bought the car, as long as the issues manifested within the cut-off period.

How Much Will a Lemon Law Claim Cost?

Under Pennsylvania lemon law, legal help must always be cost-free to the consumer. If your claim succeeds, the manufacturer must pay the legal fees.

How Long Does a Lemon Law Claim Take?

It depends on the complexity of the case. It can take as little as 30 days, but most cases take three to six months to resolve.

What Happens If I Have Issues After the Lemon Law Cut-Off?

While you may not be able to file a claim under Pennsylvania lemon laws, you may still be able to claim a breach of warranty. However, if the issues started after the lemon law cut-off and outside of the warranty period, you will struggle to lay a claim against the manufacturer.

What if the Dealership Can’t Find My Problem?

It is the dealership’s responsibility to diagnose and repair any faults that you report. It’s not your fault if they fail to spend the extra time and effort necessary to diagnose a recurring issue. Just make sure to note that the dealership was unable to find a problem on their detailed work order.

As long as you made a claim to the dealership, it will count as a repair attempt, regardless of whether the attempt was successful or not.

What Are My Claim Options?

If you can prove your claim, the law states that the manufacturer must either repurchase the defective vehicle or offer a similar replacement vehicle. We also see many clients who want a cash settlement and decide to keep their vehicle, which is something we can potentially negotiate for you.

What if I Own a Motorcycle?

Motorcycles don’t fall under Pennsylvania lemon law. However, motorcycles still fall under federal consumer protection laws, and we will fight to protect your consumer rights no matter the type of vehicle you own.

Who Do I Call?

We don’t recommend filing a lemon case without an attorney. At Pennsylvania Lemon Law Attorneys (a subsidiary of J.P. Ward & Associates), we’ve helped thousands of Pennsylvania residents find legal recourse for their faulty vehicles. If you suspect you’ve bought a lemon, or have any other questions, call us at (412) 426-4878 to schedule a free consultation.

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