Lawsuit filed against Hyundai, Kia for overstated fuel mileage

LONDON, Ont.—A class-action lawsuit has been launched in Ontario against Hyundai Canada and Kia Canada after the automakers were found to have overstated their vehicles’ fuel mileage.

London, Ont.-based law firm Siskinds LLP says it filed the legal motion against the two carmakers in Ontario, and expects similar lawsuits to be filed in Quebec and British Columbia.

“We have filed class action lawsuits on behalf of these owners because Hyundai and Kia need to properly compensate Canadians who purchased these vehicles,” lawyer Matthew Baer said in a statement.

“They need to explain to Canadians what the real fuel mileage numbers are, and how long they’ve been aware of those real numbers.”

The lawsuit comes just days after the companies announced they would reimburse the owners of more than 170,000 vehicles in Canada for the difference in the combined fuel consumption rating plus 15 per cent.

“The compensation program that the companies have announced certainly helps, but does not provide a full and adequate remedy,” Baer said.

The fuel mileage revelations came to light after a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) audit found fuel economy was inflated by up to six miles per gallon on some vehicles.

The affected vehicles for Hyundai are the 2010 to 2013 Elantra, Sonata Hybrid, Accent, Genesis, Tucson, Veloster, Elantra Coupe, Elantra GT and Santa Fe.

For Kia, the affected vehicles are the 2010 to 2013 Rio, Sportage, Soul, Soul ECO, and Optima HEV.

The lawsuit contains claims that haven’t been proven in court.