Used Vehicles in Pa - is it a Lemon?

I receive several phone calls at my law office eachand honor the terms of any warranty that they give.
day inquiring about the Pennsylvania Lemon Law andA purchaser of a used motor vehicle is a prime
Used Vehicles. I begin by telling each prospectivecandidate to use this law in the event that he
client that the PA Lemon Law does not cover usedpurchases a used "lemon", because the original
vehicles at this time.manufacturer's warranty transfers to all subsequent
Fortunately, that doesn't mean that you don't have aowners of the vehicle until it expires based upon
case. If you have purchased a "used" vehicle that stillmileage or a given length of time.
had some of the original manufacturer's warranty onIn practice, Lemon Law Attorneys have used this
it at the time of it's purchase, and a defect aroseAct very successfully in Pennsylvania to protect
while under that warranty, you may be able to bringpurchasers of defective "used" motor vehicles. If
a Lemon Law type claim. There is a federal law calledyour used vehicle has suffered a defect while still
the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act that covers usedunder the original manufacturer's warranty, you may
cars that have a written warranty on them. Thebe entitled to a full refund or free replacement
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects consumersutilizing this law.
who purchase any product that costs over $25 andAnother law that may assist purchasers of Used
comes with a written warranty, so a used car wouldVehicles in PA is the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade
be covered by this law.Practices and Consumer Protection Law. This law was
The benefits of this law are many. Like the PAdesigned to help consumers who have not received
Lemon Law, the Magnuson Moss Act provides for a"what they paid for". Our office uses this law quite
full refund or free replacement of the defectivefrequently to pursue used vehicle claims where the
product if it cannot be repaired properly after aconsumer purchases a vehicle from a dealer, the
reasonable number of attempts. Typically, thevehicle suffers major problems shortly after
number of repair attempts must be three times forpurchase, and the dealer fails to remedy the situation.
the same defect. The Act further provides forThe great thing about the Unfair Trade Practices Act
recovery of all associated costs of the claim includingis that it also provides for recovery of reasonable
recovery of reasonable Attorney fees. Theattorney fees.
Magnuson-Moss Act is an act that was designed toEither of the above laws provide great protections
ensure that manufacturers (of any product) whoto individuals who have purchased defective used
offer a written warranty on that product abide byvehicles in Pennsylvania.