There may be few things more frustrating than buying something new only to have it not work properly. Many consumers return these defective items for a refund or replacement. When the defect product is a new vehicle, it may not be so simple. Consumers often have loans to consider, so they may instead take it back to the dealer to see if the mechanic can fix the problem. If the vehicle cannot be repaired, the consumer may have to invoke the Pennsylvania lemon law.
All states have lemon laws, which offer remedies for consumers who purchase a defective vehicle. Every state’s laws are different, but in general, lemon laws include stipulations such as the following:
- The vehicle has significant defects that prevent the owner from using it as intended.
- The defects are directly related to the vehicle’s manufacturing or assembly process.
- The vehicle’s problems arise while the vehicle is still under warranty.
- The owner has unsuccessfully attempted to have the vehicle repaired a reasonable number of times within a certain time period.
A car owner who returns to the dealer numerous times for repairs but is still unable to use the vehicle may be justifiably fed up. The lemon law allows such consumers to seek a refund or replacement for the vehicle from the manufacturer. However, car manufacturers are not always eager to comply with this law, and in some cases, they may force a consumer into arbitration. This is why it is wise for car owners to seek legal guidance when dealing with possible lemon law matters.