In essence, the PA Lemon Law (and all lemon laws) outline legal steps that consumers can take if a car dealership or manufacturer sells or leases a vehicle that breaches its warranty. The law also explains the consequences applicable to the dealership that initially sold the vehicle.

While national lemon laws can vary slightly from state to state, Pennsylvania’s Lemon Law is relatively straightforward. It covers purchased or leased Pennsylvania vehicles, as well as first-time registrations from out-of-state cars. PA Lemon Law protects cars, trucks, and other passenger vehicles that can carry up to fifteen people.

However, keep in mind that for a vehicle to qualify, the legal owner and purchaser of the vehicle must report the warranty-breaking issue within one year or 12,000 miles. In many cases, they must also give the dealer three attempts to fix the problem before bringing it to court. Additionally, said purchaser must hold ownership of the defective vehicle for the entire process.

PA Lemon Law states that any issues covered under the original manufacturer’s warranty that impair a vehicle’s value, safety, or ability to function can create a “lemon” vehicle. If a car is determined to be a lemon, the manufacturer or dealer must legally fix the problem via repair, replacement, or a full refund.