Pennsylvania lemon law: how to file (2026)

The complete, plain-English walkthrough — built from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's lemon law fact sheet and the Automobile Lemon Law text (73 P.S. §§1951–1963), not law-firm marketing. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.

What vehicles are covered

Pennsylvania's Automobile Lemon Law (73 P.S. §§1951–1963) covers new, unused vehicles purchased or leased in Pennsylvania and used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and designed to carry 15 or fewer people — including dealer demonstrators.

Not covered: motorcycles, motor homes, off-road vehicles, and commercial vehicles.

The two tests (no safety shortcut)

A "reasonable number of attempts" is presumed if the nonconformity first occurred within 1 year of delivery, the first 12,000 miles, or the express warranty term — whichever comes first — and any one of these holds:

1. Three-times test

The same nonconformity persists after 3 or more repair attempts by or on behalf of the manufacturer. Different defects don't combine — it must be the same nonconformity.

2. 30-day test

The vehicle was out of service by reason of repair a cumulative 30+ calendar days and the nonconformity still exists. Days need not be consecutive.

No safety shortcut: Pennsylvania has no reduced-attempt test for safety defects — the same 3-times / 30-day thresholds apply.

No filing deadline — read this

Pennsylvania's lemon law states no suit-filing deadline. The deadline that applies to your case is unconfirmed, so this guide cannot give you a filing date — and neither can our calculator. Do not guess it. Talk to a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania promptly, before the time to bring your claim runs out.

See when your eligibility window closes →

The exhaustion rule + dealer-notice check

The exhaustion rule (§1959). If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure complying with 16 CFR Part 703, you must use it before suing (for nonconformities affecting substantial use, value, or safety). It's generally free, and its decision is not binding on you. Check your warranty booklet for how to file.

The dealer-notice check (§1957). When your vehicle went in a second time for the same defect, the dealer was required to notify the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, within 7 days — and give you a fully itemized statement for every visit. Ask the dealer for that notice (or proof it never happened): it's evidence for your case.

Delivery hardship (§1954(b)). If getting the vehicle to an authorized facility is unreasonably difficult because of the nonconformity, your written notice to the manufacturer counts as return of the vehicle — and the manufacturer must transport and repair it at its own expense.

How to file: program first, then court

Pennsylvania has no state-run arbitration program. The route is:

• Step 1: file with the manufacturer's 16 CFR 703-compliant dispute program (required before court if one exists).
• Step 2: if that doesn't resolve it, bring a civil action in a court of common pleas (§1958). Filing fees are set per county — check your county courthouse / prothonotary for the current amount.

The PA Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection has an information hotline: 1-800-441-2555 (M–F 10am–3pm).

What happens after you file

1. Program decision — the manufacturer's dispute program decides. These programs are generally free, and the decision is not binding on you: if you're unhappy, you can still sue.
2. Court action — a civil action in the court of common pleas, with normal court procedure.

Remedies: refund, replacement, treble damages

• Refund: the full purchase/lease price plus all collateral charges, minus a reasonable use allowance. The use allowance is capped at the lesser of 10¢ per mile driven before your first report of the nonconformity, or 10% of the purchase/lease price. Payment within 30 days of your election.
• Replacement: a comparable motor vehicle of equal value.
• Attorney's fees: a prevailing purchaser recovers reasonable attorney's fees + all court costs (§1958).
• Treble damages: lemon-law violations are also UTPCPL (Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law) violations — the court may award up to 3× actual damages plus fees, at its discretion (§1961).

When to talk to a lawyer instead

Pennsylvania has no state arbitration program — if the manufacturer's program doesn't resolve your claim, the next step is a lawsuit in the court of common pleas. Use LemonLawPath to get organized, then talk to a licensed lemon law attorney — especially if:

• Your defect is a serious safety hazard;
• The manufacturer denied your claim or disputes the defect;
• You need to know which filing deadline applies (the lemon law states none);
• Anything about your case feels ambiguous.

Sources: PA AG — Lemon Law fact sheet (PDF) · Pennsylvania Automobile Lemon Law — 73 P.S. §§1951–1963 (reprint; official statute URL unverified)