Last week, automakers Hyundai and Kia admitted to overstating the estimated fuel economy on some of their cars. And this week, consumers have responded.
On Sunday, Rebecca Sanders, Jeffrey Millar and Molly Simons, all residents of Ohio, brought a lawsuit against the companies. They are seeking class action status. Sanders and Millar had purchased a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, and Simons had purchased a 2012 Kia Rio. Hyundai and Kia had disclosed on Friday that both cars were among the 1.1 million automobiles in North America on which the companies had overstated the estimated fuel economy.
Hyundai and Kia said they will compensate current and former owners of the cars with debit cards consisting of estimated amounts they would have spent on gas as a result of the lower gas mileage.
The class action, which claims the companies "knowingly or recklessly exaggerated estimated gas mileage and fuel economy rating information … in order to entice" potential buyers, seeks more than $5 million in damages.
"We think our reimbursement program provides the best, quickest, and most customer-focused remedy,” Hyundai Spokesman Chris Hosford told The Detroit News. “We are fully compensating affected Hyundai owners for the additional lifetime fuel costs associated with our rating adjustment—plus a 15 percent premium. Owners have responded very favorably to the plan. Our priority is to make this right for our owners, and that's precisely what this program does."
Read more about this suit on The Detroit News.
For more InsideCounsel stories about lawsuits over gas mileage, see:
Hyundai sued over claims about car’s fuel economy
