Honda sees redemption in hybrid mileage case...

Statement by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Re: resolution of Peters v. American Honda small claims lawsuit, 5/9/2012

Honda is pleased with the Court’s decision which affirms that Honda was truthful in its advertising of the fuel economy potential of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. We are thankful for the support we received from the many satisfied Civic Hybrid owners who expressed their support throughout the legal process.

We are never satisfied when a customer is anything less than satisfied with one of our products, and the company does not relish the necessity to defend the truth in opposition to any of our customers. However, it is important to note that, since January of this year, seventeen similar small claims cases involving Civic Hybrid owners have been heard in courts across the country and Honda has now prevailed in sixteen, based on facts and the law.

Honda welcomes any customer who has questions about fuel economy to contact the company directly through our dealer network or our Automobile Customer Service office.

Mikes $0.2.....Sometimes patience is indeed a virtue! Many times during the last six months or so during the small claims court proceedings I have wanted to rant about how absurd the entire case was however I bit my tongue, or finger so to speak! As a car guy who began his career as a Tune Up and Drivability Tech at a car dealership over 25 years ago I have a better understanding than most of the issues involved with this case, it was something I faced numerous times as a complaint from customers and have had experience in diagnosing whether the mileage of a vehicle wasn’t what it should have been. I will save the long winded pontification for a cloud filled room during a friendly poker game but I will offer one interesting fact about the woman who initiated the suit, claiming her Civic failed to achieve the mileage numbers she ‘anticipated’ it would. She has a website, of course, and on that site you can PURCHASE your own CD with step by step instructions on how to file a suit against Honda yourself! There is a great write up and pretty thorough explanation of the case and its merits over on the Automotive.com site. During this whole process Honda has remained incredibly professional, something I probably would not have been able to pull off in the face of such absurdity, bravo Honda! And congrats on your victory as well! :)

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