The Lemon Law applies to used cars that have been driven for less than 100,000 miles and are six model years old or newer.[2] It does not apply to private sales or cars sold “as-is.”
Under the Lemon Law, if a used car has a substantial defect that affects its safety, value, or use, and the defect is not fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the consumer may be entitled to a refund or a replacement car.
To qualify for relief under the Lemon Law, the consumer must give the dealer written notice of the defect within a certain period of time after the purchase.[3] The consumer must also give the dealer a reasonable number of opportunities to repair the defect before they can seek a refund or replacement car.[4] If the dealer fails to repair the defect, the consumer may file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
The Attorney General’s Office may investigate the complaint and, if it finds that the dealer has violated the Lemon Law, may order the dealer to provide a refund or a replacement car. The Attorney General’s Office may also impose a civil penalty on the dealer.
In addition to the Lemon Law, Pennsylvania also has a Used Car Rule, which requires used car dealers to make certain disclosures to consumers about the condition of used cars they sell.[5] The Used Car Rule also requires dealers to provide consumers with a warranty on used cars.
