Energy Reports

Kia, Hyundai Customers Object To Fuel-Economy Settlement

Law360, New York (June 02, 2014, 2:11 PM ET) -- Dissident class members on Friday attacked a settlement resolving accusations that Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America overstated the fuel efficiency of more than 900,000 vehicles, saying the deal’s claims-made structure will unjustly curtail customer payouts.

Consumer Advocates Urge Court to Reject Proposed Hyundai/Kia MPG Class Action Settlement

A class action settlement negotiated by Hyundai and Kia following the companies’ 2012 admission that they lowballed fuel economy numbers for over a dozen 2011–2013 vehicles is structured to prevent consumers from collecting the money they are owed and should be rejected, consumer advocates told a federal court.

Attorneys Object To Proposed Settlement in Hyundai, Kia MPG Claims

Several law firms are objecting to the proposed settlement of a class-action suit seeking damages for the inflated fuel economy claims of South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia.

The attorneys said the settlement is designed to discourage owners of the vehicles from filing claims and then allows the automakers to keep any uncollected money.

Proposed Settlement of the Hyundai/Kia Fuel Economy Class Action Requires Improvements

Attorneys at Consumer Watchdog and a group of law firms representing owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles whose fuel economy (miles per gallon) was misrepresented by Hyundai and Kia say the terms of a proposed settlement between the vehicle manufacturers and two other plaintiffs’ law firms should be improved, according to a lengthy analysis prepared by the Consumer Watchdog team.

Hyundai-Kia Settlement Draws Objections Among Plaintiffs’ Lawyers

38 plaintiffs' firms take issue with $400 million offer over claims

LOS ANGELES - A proposed $400 million settlement in a class action lawsuit involving allegations that automakers Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America inflated the fuel economy of their vehicles is running into opposition from some plaintiffs' attorneys unhappy with the terms of the offer.

Consumer Advocates Will Closely Scrutinize Hyundai/Kia Settlement

Santa Monica, CA -- Consumer Watchdog will closely scrutinize the formal settlement, filed on December 23, between Hyundai, Kia and two law firms that would resolve dozens of lawsuits brought on behalf of 900,000 consumers whose gas mileage did not meet the miles per gallon advertised by the South Korean car companies, the California-based non-profit organization said today.

Questions Swirl About Settlement In Hyundai Fuel Economy Litigation

Settlement over MPG claims seen as 'sweetheart deal' by some plaintiffs

First Court Hearing On National Class Actions Against Hyundai/Kia

Last Thursday, February 14, Federal District Court Judge George H. Wu held an initial hearing on class action lawsuits filed against Hyundai and Kia across the country for falsifying gas mileage estimates.

Hyundai and Kia False Mileage Cases Go To Court In LA Thursday

Federal District Court Judge George H. Wu will hold his first hearing Thursday in the litigation over the MPG fraud by Hyundai and Kia.

Hyundai MPG Scandal Lawsuits Move Forward

Orlando, FL -- Consumer lawsuits related to Hyundai’s misrepresentation of vehicle mileage moved a step closer to court today when a special panel of federal court judges meeting in Orlando, Florida held a hearing on a request by Consumer Watchdog lawyers to centralize all such lawsuits in a Southern California federal court.

Senator Rockefeller Asks Hyundai America CEO For Answers About MPG Sticker Scandal

Washington, DC – United States Senator and Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller has written the president and chief executive of Hyundai Motors America to answer questions about the company’s false “Mile Per Gallon” window sticker claims that were exposed by an Environmental Protection Agency audit.

Auto Outlook: Hyundai, Kia Revise Mileage

Unleash the lawyers.

A class-action lawsuit was filed within 48 hours after South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors Corp. apologized for overstating the fuel economy of their vehicles.

Hyundai and Kia have admitted the estimated mileage of more than 900,000 cars, trucks and sport-utes sold in the United States and 120,000 sold in Canada since 2010 was exaggerated and said it would compensate current and former owners with debit cards for the additional amount they spent on gasoline.

Hyundai, Kia Sued Again Over Inflated Mileage Claims

Hyundai and Kia are facing a new lawsuit over inflated fuel economy claims.

This case, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, challenges the automakers’ plan to give owners of about 900,000 late-model vehicles special debit cards to make up for the autos not getting the fuel economy Hyundai and Kia claimed.

An Environmental Protection Agency investigation found that the automakers overstated fuel economy ratings for 13 models, including popular models such as the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Sorento.

Hyundai, Kia Sued Over Gas Mileage Claims

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors Corp. just two days after the Korean automakers admitted overstating the estimated fuel economy on the window stickers of a majority of 2012 and 2013 models.

Hyundai and Kia on Friday admitted overstating mileage on nearly 1.1 million vehicles in North America sold since 2010, including about 900,000 in the United States.

Hyundai, Kia Admit Cars’ Gas Mileage Is Lower Than Advertised

Apologizing for overstating the fuel economy on about 900,000 of the vehicles they sold in recent years, Hyundai and Kia will repay owners for the difference in gasoline costs.

EPA Caught Hyundai Overstating Mileage, Following Consumer Watchdog Complaint

Washington, DC -- Consumer Watchdog today praised the Environmental Protection Agency for auditing Hyundai and determining it overstated its sticker mileage estimates on various vehicles, including the Elantra.

Thousands of Kia, Hyundai Drivers Could Be Entitled to Gas-Mileage Rebate

The South Korean automaker on Friday admitted that nearly 1 million cars sold between 2010 and 2012 did not achieve the mileage claims made in advertisements.


The effort that ultimately resulted in admissions from Hyundai and Kia that they overstated mileage estimates all began with a consumer watchdog group in Santa Monica.

Jamie Court, of Consumer WatchDog, says his group heard complaints from consumers and grew skeptical of claims Hyundai made that its Elantra model was getting 40 miles per gallon.

Jamie Court Discusses Class Action Suit Challenging Hyundai’s 40 MPG Claims

Jamie Court appears on the Fox Business Network to discuss the reasons and purpose of Consumer Watchdog joining the class action lawsuit against Hyundai's deceptive advertising.

Hyundai Sued Over Elantra 40-MPG Ad Claims

With gas mileage a much higher new-car purchase consideration these days, it isn’t surprising to see yet another lawsuit filed over purportedly misleading advertising on the part of car companies. A new lawsuit, according to an article by Reuters, is alleging that Hyundai misrepresented the mileage of its Elantra.

Hyundai Is Sued Over Elantra Mileage

MARK GORDON of Whitestone, Queens, figures that buying six Hyundais over the years classifies him as a loyal customer. “I put 220,000 miles on my last one,” said Mr. Gordon, 58, a manufacturer’s representative for bridal gowns. “They don’t break down.”

Hyundai Owner Sues Over Gas Mileage Claim On Elantra

A Hyundai Elantra owner has sued the car maker over claims that the car gets 40 miles per gallon.

Hyundai Lawsuit Points Out Why Consumers Need To Beware Of 40 MPG Claims

A new lawsuit in California, accusing Hyundai of running misleading fuel-economy ads for its Elantra sedan, points out why consumers need to beware of mpg claims in car advertising.

The lawsuit alleges that Hyundai has run ads for the Elantra focusing on its fuel economy and noting that the EPA rates the car at 40 mpg-without including a mandatory disclaimer that that 40 mpg is only a highway fuel economy rating. The lawsuit was filed by a California law firm along with Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group.

Hyundai Misleads About Elantra Fuel Economy, Suit Says

The automaker's advertising contains inflated claims about how many miles per gallon the popular car can attain, the lawsuit contends.

Hyundai Sued For Misleading Consumers With MPG Claims

Consumer Watchdog has sued the automaker Hyundai over its '40 MPG' claims on the Elantra model. The lawsuit alleges that Hyundai utilized high-impact television, Internet, and print advertisements that touted "The 40 Mile Per Gallon Elantra" without government-required disclosures. The omitted disclosures would have informed consumers that the car does not attain 40 MPG under normal driving conditions. The illegal advertisements caused tens of thousands of California drivers to purchase or lease 2011 and 2012 Elantras and consequently incur unexpected fuel costs.

Hyundai Sued for Misleading ’40 MPG’ Elantra Ads

Hyundai’s Gas Mileage Claims in 2011 and 2012 Elantra Advertising Campaign Misled California Drivers

Santa Monica, CA – Hyundai Motor America misled consumers about the gas mileage of the 2011 and 2012 Elantra through a broad-based media advertising campaign designed to capitalize on public concern over escalating gas prices, according to a lawsuit filed by Consumer Watchdog and Cuneo Gilbert and LaDuca, LLP.

Sacramento Lawsuit Says Hyundai Misled Consumers On Gas Mileage

A class action suit filed in Sacramento Superior Court contends that Hyundai Motor America misled consumers about the gas mileage of its 2011 and 2012 Elantra.

The suit, filed by Consumer Watchdog and a Washington, D.C. law firm, cites specific claims of a Sacramento resident and seeks unspecified damages for California residents who purchased or leased 2011 and 2012 Elantras.

Hyundai Sued Over Elantra Fuel Economy Ad Claims

(Reuters) - Hyundai Motor Co has been sued for allegedly misleading consumers sensitive to high gas prices that its popular 2011 and 2012 Elantra model is more fuel efficient than it actually is.

The lawsuit filed by the public interest group Consumer Watchdog claims that TV advertisements touting "the 40 Mile Per Gallon Elantra" reflected only highway mileage, not city or combined highway/city mileage.

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