Auto Makers Settle Lawsuit, AG's Office Announces

NEWPORT, RI — Hyundai and Kia have settled a lawsuit with 33 states and the District of Columbia for $41.2 million, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin announced today.

The lawsuit stemmed from allegations the automakers "misrepresented the mileage and fuel economy ratings for some of their model year 2011, 2012 and 2013 vehicles," Kilmartin said, and so violated consumer protection laws.

Rhode Island's share of the settlement comes to approximately $654,000, he said.

“Automakers need to be honest in how they represent their vehicles, especially when it comes to such matters as emissions and fuel economy," Kilmartin said. "Many consumers weigh these factors heavily when making a decision on what make and model of automobile to purchase. To fix the data to sell more cars is deceptive and violates our consumer protection laws.”

According to the press release from his office, in November 2012, "Hyundai and Kia announced they were adjusting and restating the fuel economy ratings for certain model year 2011, 2012 and 2013 vehicles after it was revealed that the companies had overstated the fuel efficiency of certain vehicles."

Kilmartin alleged the automakers violated the Rhode Island Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Also, the "states alleged that Hyundai and Kia incorporated the inflated and inaccurate data into the estimated mileage ratings displayed on the window stickers of hundreds of thousands of cars in Rhode Island and across the country," Kilmartin's office said, and "sought to capitalize on the erroneous mileage estimates by placing them prominently in a variety of advertisements and other promotional campaigns."

Besides Rhode Island, the settlement included Connecticut, Iowa and Illinois, as well as Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

Image via Shutterstock