---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 32508"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "32508"
heading: "Civil actions by owners of passenger motor vehicles"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/32508"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs"
  - "Part C — Information, Standards, and Requirements"
  - "Chapter 325 — Bumper Standards"
---

# §32508. Civil actions by owners of passenger motor vehicles


When an owner of a [passenger motor vehicle](/usc/49/32101.md?p=10) sustains damages as a result of a [motor vehicle accident](/usc/49/32101.md?p=8) because the vehicle did not comply with a standard prescribed under [section 32502 of this title](/usc/49/32502.md), the owner may bring a civil action against the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) to recover the damages. The action may be brought in the [United States District Court](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-13) for the District of Columbia or in the [United States district court](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-13) for the judicial district in which the owner resides. The action must be brought not later than 3 years after the date of the accident. The court shall award costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee to the owner when a judgment is entered for the owner.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1047.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 32508 | 15:1918. | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, § 108, 86 Stat. 955. |

The words “applicable Federal” are omitted as surplus. The words “when a judgment is entered for the owner” are substituted for “in the case of any such successful action to recover that amount” to eliminate unnecessary words.