Hyundai/Kia Mileage Class Action Lawsuits Consolidated into MDL

A group of 12 consumer class action lawsuits accusing Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America Inc. of exaggerating the fuel efficiency of over 1 million vehicles were consolidated into a new MDL Tuesday.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated the 12 cases – currently pending in Alabama, California, Illinois, New Jersey and Ohio federal courts – in the Central District of California. At least 22 additional Hyundai/Kia mileage class action lawsuits pending in 12 districts may also join the newly formed MDL.

Many of the class action lawsuits were filed after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in November that the carmakers overstated the gas mileage on the window stickers of nearly 1.1 million 2011-2013 model-year vehicles. Most vehicles were receiving an average fuel economy of 1 mpg less than advertised, while others, such as the Kia Soul, were getting 6 mpg less than advertised.

Both automakers made public apologies, calling the discrepancies “procedural errors,” but consumers allege in the class action lawsuits that Hyundai and Kia “knowingly or recklessly exaggerated estimated gas mileage and fuel economy rating information…. In order to entice” consumers into buying the vehicles.

Since the discovery, Kia and Hyundai have changed the window stickers of most of their models to reflect the actual fuel economy of the vehicles. The Elantra lost two miles per gallon, while the Hyundai Santa Fe went from 33 mpg to 29 mpg. The 2013 Kia Soul lost six from its highway figure, lowering it from 34 mpg to 28 mpg.

The consolidated Hyundai/Kia Mileage Class Action Lawsuit case is In Re: Hyundai and Kia Fuel Economy Litigation, MDL 2424, in the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

UPDATE 1: Hyundai and Kia reached a $400 million class action lawsuit settlement in February 2013, which was announced in December 2013. 

UPDATE 2: A group of breakaway Class Members filed an objection to the proposed Hyundai Kia class action lawsuit settlement, calling it “unreasonable” and “unfair” to consumers.

UPDATE 3: A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit alleging Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Company misrepresented the fuel economy of certain Hyundai vehicles. Consumers who purchased or leased certain Hyundai vehicles could be eligible for a cash payment or other benefits. Learn more at the Hyundai Fuel Economy Settlement.