Sarah Mirando  |  July 17, 2012

Category: Consumer News

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Hyundai Kia mileageA Hyundai Elantra owner has filed a class action lawsuit against the automaker, claiming Hyundai misleads consumers about the fuel economy of its Elantra model. The Plaintiff says his Elantra is only getting about 29 mpg on the highway – far below the “40 Mile Per Gallon Elantra” pitch advertised by Hyundai.

Plaintiff Louis Bird, with the help of Consumer Watchdog, accuses Hyundai of advertising that the Hyundai Elantra gets 40 mpg without a government-mandated disclosure that the estimate is for highway driving only and that other measures are much lower. Bird alleges in the Elantra class action lawsuit that he kept a mileage log since he bought his Elantra last year and that despite doing most of his driving on open highways, he barely gets 29 miles per gallon.

The Hyundai Elantra mpg class action lawsuit is the second of its type filed recently against an automaker, highlighting the aggressive use of mileage numbers by manufacturers to advertise their vehicles. Honda reached a $170 million class action lawsuit settlement earlier this year to resolve claims it falsely advertised the fuel economy of its popular Honda Civic Hybrid (See “Honda Civic Hybrid Class Action Settlement”).

“We are hoping that other car makers will take notice and realize that if you do it wrong, you will have to pay the price,” said Jamie Court, executive director of Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog, which jointly filed the Hyundai Elantra class action lawsuit.

Bird is seeking class-action status and unspecified damages for all California residents who bought or leased a 2011 and 2012 Hyundai Elantra. He is also asking the Court to stop Hyundai from using gas mileage numbers in its Elantra ads without government-mandated disclosures.

Hyundai defended the Elantra 40 mpg estimate by saying it was certified by the Environmental Protection Agency, which publishes fuel economy ratings for all vehicles sold in the U.S. Critics, however, have long noted flaws with the EPA tests, which don’t mimic real-world driving conditions. Even the EPA on its own website notes that its ratings should be used to compare vehicles rather than predict what type of fuel economy an individual driver might get.

Analysts say the outcome of the Hyundai Elantra fuel economy class action lawsuit could affect automaker advertising and future litigation.

UPDATE 1: Hyundai and Kia reached a $400 million class action lawsuit settlement in February 2013, which was announced in December 2013. 

UPDATE 2: A group of breakaway Class Members filed an objection to the proposed Hyundai Kia class action lawsuit settlement, calling it “unreasonable” and “unfair” to consumers.

UPDATE 3: A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit alleging Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Company misrepresented the fuel economy of certain Hyundai vehicles. Consumers who purchased or leased certain Hyundai vehicles could be eligible for a cash payment or other benefits. Learn more at the Hyundai Fuel Economy Settlement.

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42 thoughts onHyundai Elantra 40 MPG Ads Are False, Class Action Lawsuit Says

  1. madjid gherbi says:

    I would like to join the lawsuit and I would like for Hyundai to buy the car back due to it being sold under false pretenses. my email madjid_gherbi@live.fr

  2. Michael Pelletier says:

    I have a 2010 Elantra Turing and 2012 Accent, had a problem of the Drivers window dropping like a rock Cost me 500 at the dealer for work done, I bought these cars brand new, the Accent I have only been back twice for a gas card I have less then 40,000 on each one. The dealer told me I had to have a New timing belt put in or it would wreck the hole motor if it gave out, he said it would cost me 1,500 to replace the belt or 6k for a new motor, and I thought i had bought the extended warranty, He told me that the warranty was only good for the transmission for 10 years or 100k miles

  3. Kevin says:

    I purchased a 2013 Elantra with 18000 miles on it in January 2016. The car has never gotten over 28 mpg. I would like to join the lawsuit and I would like for Hyundai to buy the car back due to it being sold under false pretenses.

  4. Kevin says:

    I have a 2013 Hyundai Elantra with 18,000 miles on it in January 2016. It only gets 28 mpg. I would like to join the lawsuit and I would like for Hyundai to buy the car back due to it being sold under false pretenses.

  5. Greg Williams says:

    I have a 2014 Elantra. I was told the gas mileage problems had been resolved and that they had been adjusted down a little to be acurate. I am averaging 24.13 mpg combined out of an advertised 28 city, 38 highway and 32 combined. My last tank had 183 highway miles, using cruise control, out of a 312 mile total. I got 27.7 mpg. (the cars computer showed that I was getting 30.4 for the tank) I can understand that with wind, hills etc that I may not get the full advertised mileage on a test track or dino, but being not being able to average over 70% of what is advertised is terrible with no place to turn to.

  6. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE 3: A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit alleging Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Company misrepresented the fuel economy of certain Hyundai vehicles. Consumers who purchased or leased certain Hyundai vehicles could be eligible for a cash payment or other benefits. Learn more at the Hyundai Fuel Economy Settlement.

  7. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE 2: A group of breakaway Class Members filed an objection to the proposed Hyundai Kia class action lawsuit settlement, calling it “unreasonable” and “unfair” to consumers.

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