GM Class Action Says Chevy Sonic Fuel Economy Estimates Overstated

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General Motors LLC is facing a class action lawsuit that alleges certain Chevrolet Sonic vehicles were manufactured, marketed and sold with incorrect EPA fuel economy estimates.

The Chevrolet MPG class action lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs Martin Puente and Joshua Jennings, who each own a 2015 Chevy Sonic. They claim that GM advertised the Chevy Sonic as EPA-rated up to 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

However, the plaintiffs point to a memorandum circulated to authorized GM dealership in which GM reportedly admitted that the EPA fuel economy for 2014-2016 Chevy Sonics with manual transmissions was overestimated by at least one mile per gallon.

Puente states that he chose to purchase the 2015 Chevy Sonic with a manual transmission because it reportedly showed better gas mileage than a car with automatic transmission. However, after he purchased the Chevy Sonic, he realized that it could not achieve the promised MPG even though his daily commute involved only highway driving.

According to the Chevy Sonic class action lawsuit, Puente received a notice on Sept. 30, 2016 which stated: “when you purchased your vehicle, the label indicated a combined mpg of 30 (27 city, 34 highway). In fact the correct EPA-estimated combined mpg is 29 (27 city, 34 highway).”

GM reportedly offered to provide Puente with a $250 debit card to pay for the extra fuel he would have to purchase based on the corrected fuel economy estimate.

However, Puente claims that this amount will not fully compensate him for the amount of gas he will have to purchase due to GM’s misrepresentation about the Chevy Sonic’s fuel economy.

Like Puente, Jennings claims he chose to purchase a 2015 Chevy Sonic because of GM’s representations about its gas mileage. Because he was starting a new job that required a 20-mile commute, he says he traded in his 4 x 4 truck for the more fuel-efficient Chevy Sonic.

However, he soon noted that the Chevy Sonic could not attain the fuel economy touted on the window sticker and in GM’s advertisements.

Jennings also received a letter from GM informing him about the incorrect combined MPG and offered him $75 in compensation for their mistake. This amount was increased to $250 after he complained.

Puente and Jennings claim they would not have purchased a Chevy Sonic vehicle had they known that the stated MPG was not reflective of the vehicle’s actual fuel efficiency.

The Chevy Sonic class action lawsuit asserts claims for breach of contract, fraud, breach of implied warranties, breach of express warranties, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, and violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

The plaintiffs also assert claims for violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act and a North Carolina law that prohibits unfair and deceptive trade practices.

Puente and Jennings are represented by Bruce H. Nagel and Randee Matloff of Nagel Rice LLP and Joseph LoPiccolo and John N. Poulos of Poulos LoPiccolo PC.

The Chevy Sonic Fuel Economy Class Action Lawsuit is Puente, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 1:16-cv-08688, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.