Civic Hybrids sued

[aggoodin]

Originally Posted by justafiesta

...and she wins just over $10,000! Of course Honda is attempting to appeal the courts decision.

Honda is probably appealing on behalf of the entire car industry. Honda doesn't set the MPG on the sticker the EPA does.

[justafiesta]

Originally Posted by aggoodin

Honda is probably appealing on behalf of the entire car industry. Honda doesn't set the MPG on the sticker the EPA does.

Actually that's only half right.

Frequently Asked Questions

EPA sets the ratings however they are based on manufacturer conducted lab testing. If Honda fibbed or exaggerated the conditions of the test to show higher fuel mileage, they are guilty as charged. The EPA doesn't do the testing. The EPA evaluates as sets averages based on the manufacturers tests.

[osufans]

Yeah, I read up on EPA testing. The EPA labs only test so many cars directly. Like stated above, they take the word of manufacturers testing on the rest of the vehicles.

Quite frankly, this makes me happy. For one, if manufacturers have the fear of being sued for false advertisement, they will tend to be more direct and truthful in the future.

Secondly, it's a nice gut-check to the Honda fanboys. While I'll agree that Honda makes a reliable vehicle, they're not SO MUCH better than all the rest, that you practically have to pay sticker to get one, then turn around and pay almost 30% more for a used one vs a comparable vehicle. That's why I still haven't owned one.

[Cobra348]

She did - $10K. Her usage of small claims got a lot more than the class action suit being done will net to claimants. And it ain't just her because a class action would not be in the works if that were so.

[Captainmorbid]

Honda is appealing in superior court. Which enables their legal team to be involved, should be a scary precident if the small claims verdict is upheld... (for the manufacturers ) Hyundai might be getting nervous!

Though their "actual milage may vary" disclaimers will likely allow Honda to win on appeal...

[osufans]

Originally Posted by Captainmorbid

Honda is appealing in superior court. Which enables their legal team to be involved, should be a scary precident if the small claims verdict is upheld... (for the manufacturers ) Hyundai might be getting nervous!

Though their "actual milage may vary" disclaimers will likely allow Honda to win on appeal...

Of course they're appealing, because if they don't, how many folks that were considering the class action suit would jump over to small claims court? They would cost Honda a heck of a lot more than their class action settlement. They would currently only have to pay the lawyers $8.5million in the class action suit.

There are 30,000 plaintiffs in the class suit. There's a couple variables, but the main gist of the current proposed settlement by Honda is:
1) $100 cash, or
2) $500 transferable voucher good for Honda, or
3) $1000 non-transferable off a new Honda

So, in addition to the attorney fees, Honda would be on the hook for either:
1) $300,000
2) $1.5 million
3) $3 million in rebates for a new car

So at most, Honda would be on the hook for say, $11.5 million.

Now, let's say 30K customers went the small claims route, and they all won $10K. That would be a loss of $300 million!!!

There's NO WAY Honda wants to allow that, based on the single precedent set by Peters. I'm still pulling for her though!

[Captainmorbid]

Me too! Though I expect she won't, it still might shake up the marketing dept at Honda.