In a dramatic legal move, a Pennsylvania resident has taken on one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world, alleging significant defects in a newly purchased vehicle. James Fontana filed a complaint against General Motors, LLC in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on an unspecified date. The case centers around claims that a 2025 Cadillac XTS purchased by Fontana is plagued with defects that impair its use and safety.
According to the complaint, Fontana bought the Cadillac XTS on November 23, 2024, for over $60,135.00. Despite assurances from General Motors through various warranties, including a three-year or 36,000-mile warranty provided at purchase, Fontana claims the vehicle exhibited numerous non-conformities shortly after taking possession. These issues allegedly violate express written warranties and have led to multiple unsuccessful repair attempts by authorized service facilities. The complaint states that these persistent defects substantially impair the vehicle's use and value.
Fontana's lawsuit accuses General Motors of violating Pennsylvania's Lemon Law (73 Pa. C.S.A. §1951 et seq.), which mandates manufacturers to repair or replace defective vehicles after reasonable attempts fail. He asserts that his vehicle was subjected to repairs more than three times for the same issue without resolution and was out of service for over thirty days due to these defects—criteria meeting the presumption of failure under state law.
The plaintiff also brings forth claims under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. §2301 et seq.), alleging that General Motors failed to perform effective warranty repairs and did not adequately explain warranty terms before purchase. Additionally, Fontana accuses General Motors of breaching both express and implied warranties under Pennsylvania’s Uniform Commercial Code.
Fontana seeks judgment against General Motors for an amount equal to the vehicle's purchase price plus collateral charges and attorney fees not exceeding $50,000. He requests relief under several counts: Lemon Law violations, breach of warranty under Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act provisions, unfair trade practices under consumer protection laws, and revocation of acceptance due to substantial impairment.
Representing Fontana is Michael Power from Power & Associates P.C., based in Glen Mills, PA. The case is being heard in Allegheny County with no specific judge mentioned yet assigned or hearing date provided within the document reviewed.