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The Pennsylvanian Lemon Law is known as "Automobile Lemon Law". This law applies to all new vehicles and also all leased vehicles that are purchased and registered in the State. The object of this law is to protect the consumer from any defect to his/her new vehicle

Manufacturer's obligation

If the consumer experiences any faults with his/her new vehicle which result in the non operation of the vehicle or compromise on its safety etc. within one year of sale or within 12000 miles of use, then the manufacturer has to repair or take corrective action at his costs.

In case even after three attempts to repair the defect, or causing the vehicle to be off the road for thirty days due to the repairs, the manufacturer is unable to rectify the problem, then as per the opinion of the buyer, the manufacturer may either replace the vehicle with a new identical or comparable one, or refund the contract amount to the buyer.

In case the buyer opts for a refund, then the manufacturer has to refund not only the contracted price of the vehicle, but also all other incidental expenses like taxes, registration fees, etc.

The manufacturer is entitled to deduct a reasonable allowance from the above amount owing to the normal wear and tear of the vehicle in the owner's hands. Each time the vehicle is attempted to be repaired by the manufacturer or his dealer, he has to provide the consumer with a detailed list of all the work done on the vehicle.

The manufacturer can resell the returned vehicle to another buyer, but he has to first disclose to the buyer the reason for the resale along with a detailed explanation of the work done on the vehicle. Further he has to provide the new owner with the same warranty as he did to the original owner.

Consumer's duties and rights

It is the duty of the consumer to make knows to the manufacturer by a written communication about the defect in his vehicle within the warranty period to avail the protection of this law.

He should, unless impossible, deliver the vehicle to the nearest authorized dealer of the manufacturer for repairs and rectification.

The consumer will not be entitled to the protection of this Act if it is proved that the defect so occurred was due to the negligence, abuse, etc. of the consumer and not of the manufacturer.

The consumer must acquaint himself about the informal dispute settlement mechanism of the manufacturer, and must approach this mechanism first in case of any dispute.

In case the above fails, then the consumer is entitled to approach the civil court for remedy. If he is successful in his suit, then he is entitled to costs also along with the damages.

This Act does not take away the rights of the consumer to file for other rights or remedies available under any other law for the time being in force.

The US federal law governing lemons is officially called The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, however, most American states each have their own lemon law.


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