Interstate Batteries Class Action Settlement

Interstate Batteries has reached a class action lawsuit settlement over allegations it breached their warranty and miscalculated the price charged for replacement auto batteries. As a result, anyone who purchased an Interstate Batteries, Nationwide, PowerVolt or Quickstart brand battery in the last 12 years may be able to receive benefits from the class action settlement.

The Interstate Batteries settlement will resolve a class action lawsuit, entitled Milano v. Interstate Battery System of American, Inc., that takes aim at the company’s Pro-Rata Warranty. During the Pro-Rata-Warranty-coverage period, the original purchaser of that battery is entitled to purchase a replacement battery at an adjusted price, which is based on how long the original battery lasts. The Interstate Batteries class action lawsuit alleges the company’s Pro-Rata Warranty did not comply with warranty laws and that Interstate Batteries breached their warranty and violated consumer protection laws by sometimes miscalculating the price charged for replacement batteries.

Interstate Batteries denies they did anything wrong, but has agreed to a class action lawsuit settlement to end the litigation.

Class Members of the Interstate Batteries class action settlement include all original purchasers of an Interstate Batteries trademarked battery (meaning the Interstate Batteries, Nationwide, PowerVolt and Quickstart brands) that was covered by a Previous Interstate Batteries’ Pro-Rata Warranty and that was purchased from an Interstate Batteries authorized dealer (but not from an All Battery Center Store), in the U.S. or the District of Columbia, at any time from April 19, 2000 through April 30, 2012, and who:

(Tier I) later presented that original battery, during the applicable pro-rata-warranty-coverage period, to an Interstate Batteries authorized warranty dealer for a pro-rata-warranty adjustment on the price of a Replacement Battery, and who then purchased that Replacement Battery from that dealer at an adjusted price on a date from May 19, 2006, through April 30, 2012; or

(Tier II) still had, on or before April 30, 2012, an unexpired contractual right under a Previous Interstate Batteries’ Pro-Rata Warranty to purchase a Replacement Battery in a pro-rata-warranty-adjustment transaction if their original battery fails under the terms of the Previous Interstate Batteries’ Pro-Rata Warranty.

Under the class action lawsuit settlement, Interstate Batteries has agreed to improve its warranty practices going forward. It has also agreed to provide check cards or product vouchers to eligible Class Members who purchased a replacement battery at an adjusted price under the Previous Interstate Batteries’ Pro-Rata Warranty between May 19, 2006 and December 31, 2019 and who submit a valid claim form.

Settlement Class Members who submit a claim form without a receipt will receive a $5 product voucher. Those who can provide a receipt can choose between a $12 product voucher or an $8.50 check card. The deadline to submit a claim for Tier I Class Members is December 31, 2012. Tier II Class Members can make a claim within one year of the date they buy their replacement battery, no later than December 31, 2020.

Claim forms and more information on your rights in the Interstate Batteries Class Action Lawsuit Settlement can be found at www.InterstateBatteriesSettlement.com. Detailed instruction on how to file a claim can be found in our Open Lawsuit Settlements section.