Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Honda
What are you going to do, sue? Good luck.
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This week's Superior Court verdict suggests there's little to no recourse for consumers.
As Autoblog readers likely have already learned, a Superior Court judge in California has tossed out a judgment issued by a small claims court earlier this year awarding nearly $10,000 to Honda Civic Hybrid owner [Heather Peters](http://autoblog.com/tag/heather peters). She had taken the Japanese maker to court claiming it used misleading advertising promising the sedan would get significantly better mileage than proved true in the real world.
In overruling the lower court, Superior Court Judge Dudley W. Gray II wrote that, “Federal regulations control the fuel economy ratings posted on vehicles and advertising claims related to those fuel economy ratings.”
Well, um, no. That was my understanding, too, until I had the chance to pursue the matter with the EPA a couple years back. In fact, I was told, the law simply sets an upper limit. If the tests determine a new model gets 50 mpg - as with Peters’ Civic Hybrid - that’s the most a maker can advertise or use on the Monroney window sticker. But should a manufacturer like Honda realize through its own tests that the vehicle’s real-world mileage might be noticeably less they can mark it down to whatever they think is valid.
Of course, who would do that? With mileage now one of the top things on the consumer’s shopping list, who can blame a manufacturer for wanting to put the prettiest lipstick on a gas hog. And this week’s Superior Court verdict suggests there’s little to no recourse for consumers who only discover that fact after they’ve given it a big smooch.
[HR][/HR][RIGHT] *
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**Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com](http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/) and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.*[/RIGHT]
[HR][/HR]Continue reading The case of Heather Peters and the Honda Civic Hybrid sets an alarming trend
The case of Heather Peters and the Honda Civic Hybrid sets an alarming trend originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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