It can be disheartening for a Pennsylvania resident to spend their hard earned money on an automobile only to suffer through repeated vehicular malfunctions. Making things even more frustrating is when the dealership does nothing to fix the problem. The buyer may feel like they have to swallow the loss. However, this is where lemon laws come into effect.
Lemon laws have been specifically designed to protect consumers from dealerships knowingly selling vehicles that are defective. Customers may have the right to a full refund or complete replacement if the automobile they purchased is too defective to be fixed, especially after they have taken the vehicle to be repaired multiple times.
When a person has a defective automobile, it feels like they are living a nightmare. This is especially true when one considers that the average new vehicle can cost in excess of $36,000. This underscores the importance of consumers having somewhere to turn when they purchase a defective vehicle.
Outside of buying a new home, a vehicle is usually the most expensive purchase a person will ever make. Lemon laws give customers the reassurance that comes from knowing that if they purchase a vehicle that has something wrong with it, they will get their money back.
Not every state has the same lemon laws. New Jersey and Washington state rank among the best when it comes to these consumer protections. Louisiana, North Dakota and Missouri rank near the bottom. Consumers are encouraged to do research on the potential vehicle as well as the dealerships.
If an individual purchases a vehicle and later realizes that they bought a lemon, they may do well in contacting a consumer protection attorney. These attorneys may have experience in dealing with companies and industries that have a reputation for ripping off customers. Legal counsel could help a client recoup money invested in a lemon vehicle.