From a Seattle online paper:

SEATTLE: Hagens Berman: Consumers Sue Kia, Hyundai over Fudged EPA Ratings | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online

Actually, the title includes both Hyundai and Kia.

 

Interesting article and lawsuit. Noticed that there are plaintiffs on the suite that have cars/years that currently dont qualify for the rebate. Yet they are bucketed in the lawsuit. Seems a little rushed to have only 3 plaintiffs of which 1-2 cars dont even qualify as their car model are not part of EPAs revised mpg.

It is interesting though. Maybe every owner might start to jump on.

Multiple class action suits filed in Canada in multiple provinces:
Hyundai and Kia Announced Fuel Cost Compensation; Class Action Lawsuit Filed | Automotive Service World

 

Could this end up going beyond Hyundai and Kia?

Mileage inflation sparks EPA scrutiny of carmaker claims  - Business on NBCNews.com

 

ddavid,

Your statements are correct, I believe, re that article, but there may be more than one lawsuit. Think I'd keep checking if you've a mind in that direction.

 

Not really interested in suing but interesting to see how things unfold within the next couple of days/weeks as consumers react to this.

 

Hey guys,

I just purchased a 2012 Santa Fe Turbo tonight from my local dealer. They did not have the updated EPA on the windows, and I just came across this thread ... Funny thing is, i traded in a lease just to get away from the terrible gas MPG in my jeep ... and now i see this ...

Any suggestions as to what I can/need to do?

I went to the https://hyundaimpginfo.com website, and it says that the mpg estimator is offline.

Am i able to qualify for anything? Why wouldn't the dealer have the updated MPG on the stickers ...??

Thanks for your help,
Curtis

 

Hey guys,

I just purchased a 2012 Santa Fe Turbo tonight from my local dealer. They did not have the updated EPA on the windows, and I just came across this thread ... Funny thing is, i traded in a lease just to get away from the terrible gas MPG in my jeep ... and now i see this ...

Any suggestions as to what I can/need to do?

I went to the https://hyundaimpginfo.com website, and it says that the mpg estimator is offline.

Am i able to qualify for anything? Why wouldn't the dealer have the updated MPG on the stickers ...??

Thanks for your help,
Curtis

In some states you have a 3 day time frame in which to cancel a contract and give back the item. I know in my state it applies to cars. So if you don't want it, I would invoke this if your state allows and give the car back. If the dealer didn't disclose the fact that the gas mileage was wrong then they committed fraud because all dealers were informed last week. If they didn't make a special price reduction because of the mileage issue for you then I would take the car back and either give it back, or demand that they give you some form of compensation for the fraud/issue at hand.

 

... It gets better though. When we were looking at the vehicles, the sticker was the old MPG ... then we took ownership ... and i was looking through my glove box and noticed the "new" sticker in the glove compartment which was not even the sticker we saw on the window.

So we bought the vehicle based on the initial window sticker, we left and came back to pick up the vehicle and it had the new window sticker in it.

not a word about the new sticker ...

 

... It gets better though. When we were looking at the vehicles, the sticker was the old MPG ... then we took ownership ... and i was looking through my glove box and noticed the "new" sticker in the glove compartment which was not even the sticker we saw on the window.

So we bought the vehicle based on the initial window sticker, we left and came back to pick up the vehicle and it had the new window sticker in it.

not a word about the new sticker ...

It's called FRAUD and I would let your dealer know you aren't happy and they need to make it right or you'll be pursuing legal remedies that are available. Like I said, either they should take the car back and cancel the deal if you don't want it, or they should compensate you in some way for the lower value of the car.

 

I am assuming you mean 2013? My suggestion is to go back to the dealer and try to get compensation. The reason they may have not had the updated monroney labels on is because HMA and HAC dealers are just starting to receive them now. We just got ours today.

 

I am assuming you mean 2013? Yes you qualify. The reason they may have not had the updated monroney labels on is because HMA and HAC dealers are just starting to receive them now. We just got ours today.

yes, 2013 ... sorry.

I cant believe this because this is the whole reason we bought the vehicle, was for the gas mileage ... especially compared to what we were getting in the jeep. Do i just notify the dealer why i am having them document everything? Will they take the car back?

 

Agreed I am a little ticked off too. HWY figures went from 7.4l/100km to 8.4l/100km...thats like 5 imperial mpg difference!!!

edit: I am not sure how this works for vehicles with updated monroney stickers. Thats why I said contact them. I do know that if you buy it with an old sticker you will qualify, but with the updated ones I think you may be **** out of luck

 

I got an interesting reply back from Hyundai. I did not pick up on the fact that the reimbursement was incremental (yearly).
Initially I was eligible for $28. However it appears that I can re-apply once per year for as long as I own the vehicle. Annoying? Yes. workable? Yes.
Here is the reply I got:

Thank you for contacting the Hyundai MPG Call Center.

We are sorry to learn that you are dissatisfied with the current reimbursement being offered. Please allow us the opportunity to clarify this process. A customer may receive one reimbursement card within a one year period (three hundred and sixty five day period, respectfully) for the life of their eligible vehicle. This is not a onetime reimbursement, rather incremental, and these reimbursements are based on mileage of operation and cost of fuel during the period eligible for reimbursement. We understand that owners of a new vehicle will not see a large reimbursement for their first eligible card. New owners will see a greater reimbursement over the life of their vehicle.

When a customer submits for another reimbursement card, the cost of gas will be based on the average prices of the eligible period. This period can be longer than a year if you do not wish to re-apply exactly one year after receiving a reimbursement card. However, a customer may not receive another reimbursement card less than a year. The average amount awarded will reflect fuel price changes within the period reviewed that has been applied for. This average will take changing fuel costs into account allowing the reimbursement amount to be appropriate at any time.

We sincerely apologize for these errors and our top priority is to make things right for those impacted. We will not be repurchasing your car as a result of the revised fuel economy ratings related to your vehicle. As set forth at www.HyundaiMPGInfo.com, Hyundai has put in place a voluntary comprehensive program to reimburse customers for additional fuel costs incurred as a result of the revised fuel economy ratings. In addition, the reimbursement provided to affected customers will be increased 15% as an acknowledgement of any inconvenience.

If your vehicle does not currently meet the minimum requirements, or you are dissatisfied with the amount that would be sent, open enrollment for this program will remain in effect until November 02, 2013. This allows owners of new vehicles the time to acquire needed mileage and have odometer inspections performed.

 

hyundaiMPGinfo.com

 

Would like some opinions on this ...

Checked the website above in regards to see if my VIN would qualify for the program ... it didn't.

I said this before, when I told them what vehicle we wanted ... it had the the old MPG sticker in it, then came back 2 hrs later to sign paperwork and the new MPG sticker was in the glove box.

You would think that Hyundai would take this into consideration and that would make me qualify for the gas reimbursement?

Waiting to contact them tomorrow to see ... what are your opinions?

 

My mother-in-law just bought an Elantra two nights ago and never had such a sheet, either. I'll let her know about this.

 

the quoted text below is straight off the hyundaimpginfo website.

The reimbursement rate of $100.75, does anyone know if that is the reimbursement rate per month, or per year?


The basic fuel rebate calculation is as follows:

a) The number of gallons of fuel consumed is calculated by dividing the owners’ accumulated mileage by the vehicles’ combined fuel economy rating
b) This is calculated using both the original fuel economy rating and the revised fuel economy rating
c) The difference between these two calculations is equal to the total number of gallons of fuel eligible for the rebate
d) This total number of gallons of fuel is then multiplied times the average price of fuel
e) The result is the fuel rebate amount in dollars
Example:
Model: XXX
Purchased: New
Mileage at time of Purchase: 0
Mileage to date: 15,000
Residence: California
Comb F/E (original): 27
Comb F/E (revised): 26
Fuel price: $4.10
Gallons of fuel eligible for rebate: (15,000 miles / 26mpg) – (15,000 miles / 27mpg) = 21.4 gallons
Fuel rebate amount: 21.4 gallons * 4.10 $/gal = $87.61
Acknowledgement of inconvenience (15%) : 0.15 * $87.61 = $13.14
Total Reimbursement: $87.61 + $13.14 = $100.75

 

its neither a month or a year... its based on 15,000miles....

whether you drive that in a month, a year, or 5 years is all dependant on your usage of the vehicle...

just do the calculations yourself based on how much you would drive a month or a year and you will figure out your own cost.. its different for everyone.

 

its neither a month or a year... its based on 15,000miles....

whether you drive that in a month, a year, or 5 years is all dependant on your usage of the vehicle...

just do the calculations yourself based on how much you would drive a month or a year and you will figure out your own cost.. its different for everyone.

Well in that case, if the person drives 15k for that year ... they recieve about 100 dollars for the whole year ... also that was in california ... did the same quote on the conference call that they have on their website, but replaced it with FL and it was 88$

I guess what i am trying to get at ... is the reimbursement even worth going through all the hassle ... for such little return?

 

Depends on the vehicle i guess... from my understanding the Santa fe didn't have as drastic a change in MPG then other vehicles... I personally would just prefer they give me $2000 rebate and just be done with it.. something for the gas and the lose in value of the vehicle... i wish they would just drop the MSRP down by $1000 on top of the rebate some people are getting... makes sense that the value of the car goes down.. its not just about the gas savings.. its also about resale value..

 

Was just playing with the Canadian online calculator... Looks like the current compensation rate in Ontario is $1.024 per 100km (2.0T AWD). I've only had mine a week, so I'm going to wait a bit before my first claim.

 

thanks for those canadian numbers... im looking to purchase the same model within the next 1-2 months for a 7 year financed term... based on your numbers on an estimated 20,000km year.. on a finance of 7 years.. i will have spent $1433.60 more on gas over the full term of the finance. Im going to take these numbers and use them in my negotiations.

does anyone have the chart that shows the old numbers and new numbers but for canada in L/100KM???

 

nevermind.. fount it here Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. | Hyundai and Kia Initiate Program to Adjust Fuel Consumption Ratings on Select Vehicles

 

I'm hoping there's a reasonable explanation for this, but at the moment I am perplexed...

I was drawn to consider this when I looked at my original window sticker this morning. The L/100km matched the "old" values, but there was also a mpg rating of 27city and 38hwy. WTH??? That seemed like a large jump from the US figures I remembered. Of course those are Imperial gallons, but that still seemed like a huge bump for the sake of 0.84L (= 22%) of difference between a US and Imperial gallon. Sure enough, for 22% more volume those Cda figures translate into a 35%city and 40%hwy bump over the US figures.

So then I looked at the published ratings for my SF (2013 2.0T AWD). The following ratings are published on the "compensation" sites for the US and Canada:

US rating (Miles/us gal):
Old - 20/27/22
Revised - 19/24/21

Cda rating (Litres/100km):
Old - 10.4/ 7.4/ 9.1
Revised - 11.0/ 8.4/ 9.8

My understanding was that the US ratings were "accepted" by the Canadian regulator, but you can't get from here to there by converting the US numbers above. At first I was going to ask for folks here to double check my math, but then I found a function on my Blackberry calculator that converts US mpg to L/100km (who knew!). Anyway, the calcutor agrees with me. The following is what the US figures convert to directly as L/100km.

Old - 11.7/ 8.7/ 10.6
Revised - 12.3/ 9.8/ 11.2

That's off by 1.3 - 1.5L/100km from the published Canadian numbers. Anyone??? How do Hyundais built for sale in Canada get better performance?

 

You calculation is right and so is Hyundai's but keep in mind Canadian fuel economy numbers are based on maximum legal speed allowed on Canadian highways which 100km/h or 62.13mph while us numbers are based on 70mph. So you see a increased mpg in Canada. You know your mpg over 60mph reduces dramatically with speed.

 

i checked some of your numbers and you are correct.. the conversion doesn't make sense... maybe our models are lighter??

oddly enough if you look at the US and Canadian site for the specs.. you will see the Santa Fe on the canadian site weighs 1752kg.. BUT.. if you convert that to lbs it becomes 3862.50lbs... but on the american site it says its 3706lbs... so does that canadian 2.0tawd weigh 156.5lbs more then the american version??

if so that contradicts your findings of ours having better gas milage... less weight might explain that but not more weight... can someone confirm my numbers???

 

This campaign came out on Nov 2, 2012, if you bought it before that date, say the 31st, you are in a "gray" area, but should be able to get reimbursed, may take some time. The MPG campaign is "P15", if you input your VIN into that site and it says your not eligible, your car has a campaign open "TM4" Malroney label replacement, which is too late to perform because you already purchased the car. You should contact the Hyundai line...


https://hyundaimpginfo.com/contact

 

My 2011 Sonata (with about 95K miles) is not included. I could have retired!!

 

So, basically they are telling me that the 2010 Tucson is not included on their list and that the MPG figures were correct. I don't think so.

 

Buddy of mine over in the beaches area also has the 2010 Tucson and thinks the numbers are definitily exaggerated and isn't too happy that his Tuscan didn't make the list.

 

So here ya go guys....
For my Wife's Azera - I went on and this is what were due. Since we've owned the 2012 Azera since May 2012 and the MPG estimate was only off by 1 mpg...number wasn't so crazy, but it should equate to a full tank of gas for free every 6 months. That's not bad!

Makes me want to keep the car forever! LOL

Customer information
Claim Number: CL-000*******
Name: Mike
Address:
City:
State: NJ
Postal Code:
Email:
Vehicle Information
VIN:
Model: Azera
Year: 2012
Starting Odometer: 0
Ending Odometer: 8100
Ownership: Purchased New / Own
Dates Driven: 2012-05-22 - 2012-11-14
11/14/12 Fuel Reimbursement Estimate

Reimbursement Estimate: 73.11 -------

 

Interesting...

EPA finds Hyundai, Kia overstated gas mileage - Yahoo! News

I have been telling them that since I purchased my 4 cylinder 2011 Santa-Fe and all I've been getting back from them is BS.

Not only does their Highway mileage average 2 to 4 gallons less than the 28 MPG they quote, the trip computer is woefully inacurate, also greatly inflated. The previous cars we've had always did at least 2 to3 MPG better than their advertised Highway MPG since we don't go over 65 MPH and drive very conservatively.

Hyundai must have known they had problems a lot earlier than this, since, at least on mine and other Hyundai models I've looked into, they decided to reset the trip computer's average MPG each time you fill-up - a Hyundai only thing ? I also complained about this only to receive more BS from both the dealer and Hyundai America.

The advertised mileage is why I purchased the 4 Cylinder instead of the six - obviously to no avail.

I am not only upset about the mileage lies, but also the lack of an authoritative response when I complained - often !!

A Disappointed Owner

 

You should simultaneously complain to both Hyundai and the EPA. The 2013 Santa Fes now have the same mileage rating as the 2010-2012 Santa Fes, despite the fact that they weigh less, have improved aerodynamics, and a more efficient motor. That is a physical impossibility so if Hyundai is sticking with the lower rating for the 2013 they are going to have to downgrade the rating for the 2010-2012. If enough people complain and threaten legal action they may cave before becoming the target of another class action suit.

 

Went on the Hagens-Berman website (Hagens Berman) and joined the class action suit. If you bought the 2013 Santa Fe Sport based on the original MPG rating then more people should join as well.

 

North American sales only?

Does thiseffect only Santa Fe's bought in the USA and Canada or does it include all Santa Fe's sold world wide?

I bought a 2012 AWD Santa Fe with the 2.2L Diesel engine here in the Philippines and have been complaining ever since I took delivery that it is not getting the fuel mileage that was claimed.

 

I got a letter in the mail from Hyundai yesterday, explaining the fuel economy rating change and program they put in place to compensate owners.

 

Mpg

I guess I don't understand all the math shown here.
All I know is that the sticker on my 2012 Genesis 4.6 states 17 city 29 hwy. I have gotten better than 29 on the interstates many times. But the real-deal is that I keep a spreadsheet on all my cars and it says that:
I have driven the car for 4,117 miles and purchased 202.8 gals of fuel, which equals 20.3mpg. And spent $785.10 for this fuel almost all in Illinois where we MUST use 10% Ethonol which means you need to burn more of it compared to old time gasoline. Really sucks. Now over 80% is city/urban driving and some of that is sitting in parking lots idling while waiting for the wife. Seems that is my main job now that I am retired. Bottom line is 20.3 avg mpg seems to me to fall between the 17/29 stated on the sticker. Overall I am very pleased with the miliage I am getting and the car I am driving. Now I have filled out the Hyundai form and had the miliage verified at the Dealership and they stated I will be getting my first CASHCARD in a few weeks for between $47-$52 not bad for nothing.