PA · Consumer Rights

Consumer Rights in Pennsylvania

By CanISueForThis Editorial Team Reviewed by Editorial Team Updated March 21, 2026

Key Pennsylvania Law

73 P.S. Section 1951-1963 (Pennsylvania Automobile Lemon Law) & 73 P.S. Section 201-1 et seq. (Consumer Protection Law)

Pennsylvania's Automobile Lemon Law covers new motor vehicles and requires manufacturers to replace or refund defective vehicles when covered defects cannot be repaired within a reasonable number of attempts. Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law (CPL) is one of the older but still effective state consumer fraud statutes.

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Procedural Details in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's lemon law (73 P.S. Section 1951-1963) covers new motor vehicles and applies when the same defect cannot be repaired after three repair attempts, or the vehicle is out of service for 30 or more cumulative days — within one year or 12,000 miles of original delivery. Pennsylvania requires manufacturers with certified arbitration programs to provide informal dispute resolution before a consumer may sue. Pennsylvania's CPL allows private actions with actual damages and attorney fees; courts may award up to three times actual damages for intentional violations. Insurance bad faith in Pennsylvania is addressed under 42 Pa. C.S. Section 8371, which allows bad faith claims with interest, attorney fees, court costs, and punitive damages — one of the more comprehensive statutory bad faith frameworks. The statute of limitations for CPL claims is six years. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department handles insurer complaints.

Pennsylvania Agencies & Resources

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Bureau of Consumer Protection

Enforces Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law and investigates deceptive business practices statewide.

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Pennsylvania Insurance Department

Regulates insurers and processes consumer complaints about bad faith claim handling in Pennsylvania.

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Pennsylvania Bar Association — Lawyer Referral

Connects Pennsylvania consumers with attorneys for lemon law, CPL, and bad faith insurance cases.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What triggers Pennsylvania's Automobile Lemon Law?

Pennsylvania's lemon law may apply after three repair attempts for the same defect or 30 cumulative days out of service — within one year or 12,000 miles. If the manufacturer has a certified arbitration program, you must go through it before filing a lawsuit. Documenting all repair visits in writing is essential.

What does Pennsylvania's bad faith statute (42 Pa. C.S. Section 8371) provide?

Pennsylvania's statutory bad faith law allows courts to award interest at the prime rate plus three percent on the claim amount, court costs, attorney fees, and punitive damages when an insurer acts in bad faith. This comprehensive statutory framework is stronger than many states that rely solely on common law.

How long do I have to file a consumer protection claim in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law has a six-year statute of limitations — one of the longest in the country. This gives Pennsylvania consumers substantial time to identify and pursue consumer fraud claims, though acting sooner preserves evidence and witness memories.

Does Pennsylvania's lemon law cover motorcycles?

Pennsylvania's Automobile Lemon Law covers motor vehicles, which has been interpreted to include motorcycles under certain circumstances. The key is that the vehicle must have been sold with a warranty and be primarily used for personal, family, or household purposes. Consulting a Pennsylvania lemon law attorney helps determine your specific vehicle's coverage.

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By CanISueForThis Editorial Team Reviewed by Editorial Team Updated March 21, 2026