Hyundai finally settles inflated fuel economy claims lawsuit for $41.2 million

Four years later, the Hyundai fuel economy fiasco is pretty much over.

Fuel Economy information is displayed on the window of a Hyundai Genesis luxury vehicle on the lot of the Keyes Hyundai dealership in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Ward's Automotive Group is scheduled to release U.S. monthly total and domestic auto sales on Jan. 5. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Fuel Economy information is displayed on the window of a Hyundai Genesis luxury vehicle on the lot of the Keyes Hyundai dealership in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Ward's Automotive Group is scheduled to release U.S. monthly total and domestic auto sales on Jan. 5. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Remember when
Hyundai and Kia changed their claimed fuel economy numbers for a bunch of models? That happened back in 2012, and Hyundai has finally settled a lawsuit concerning the economy adjustment with a payment of $41.2 million. The lawsuit was filed by 33 state attorneys general, as well as one from Washington D.C. Each state will decide how to use its money from the settlement. According to Hyundai, this settlement was an “amicable agreement,” and the company also denies any wrongdoing in changing claimed fuel economy numbers.


Hyundai also reports that the agreement was reached, in part, due to
the reimbursement program instituted after the economy adjustment. This program allows owners to be reimbursed the extra fuel cost, with payments determined by miles driven. The payments are sent after an owner has an affected car’s odometer checked by a dealer. In addition, Hyundai also offered lump-sum payments as an option after
the results of a class-action lawsuit. So far, the company reports about 75 percent of eligible owners have participated in the program.


This isn’t the only major payment Hyundai has made concerning the fuel economy issue. In 2014, Hyundai paid roughly $300 million in fines to the EPA. The company was also sued for inflated fuel economy claims
in South Korea. In the US, models affected by the adjustment include the Hyundai Santa Fe, Accent, Veloster, Sonata Hybrid, Tucson, Genesis and Azera, along with the Kia Soul, Rio, Sorento, Sportage and Optima.


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