William Maley

Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

May 9, 2012

Heather Peters, the owner of a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid who won her case against Honda in small claim courts in February, has had here case overturned.

Superior Court Judge Dudley W. Gray II ruled in favor of Honda this week, saying the company complied with regulations one how automakers advertise fuel economy. Grey also wrote in his ruling that miles per gallon ratings are for comparing vehicles and don't account for factors that could effect mileage.

"Despite these many variables, most of the owners of the subject vehicle achieve fuel economy very close to the EPA estimate," Gray wrote.

"It's a sad day when regulations designed to protect consumers are used against them. I'm certain that the EPA and FTC never intended to shield Honda from liability for advertising claims that a court of law determined to be false." Peters said.

Source: Associated Press, Motoramic

Related:

A Honda Owner Takes The Company To Court, Minus The Lawyers

Honda Civic Hybrid Owner Wins Judgement Against Honda

View full article

*shakes head*

This is the biggest sorry excuse for the courts. Protecting the criminal element again. It seems the courts are more interested in protecting the criminals than the victims.

gov test.... gov judges... are they not protecting the EPA tests, or at least the ability to "cheat the test"....which can happen for any test...

So she should sue the EPA in small claims court next.

It is disappointing that Honda got the verdict it wanted on appeal.

You cannot sue the EPA in state small claims court. That is jurisdiction of a federal court given that the defendant is a federal agency.

It is disappointing that Honda got the verdict it wanted on appeal.

You cannot sue the EPA in state small claims court. That is jurisdiction of a federal court given that the defendant is a federal agency.

I know. And you can only sue the Federal government if they decide you can. Its BS.

indeed SAmedei..... yay for statism protecting itself... /sarcasm.

And Leaders wonder why the people are rising up against them.

And Leaders wonder why the people are rising up against them.

How are we rising up? Occupy gets laughed at by the media. And meanwhile, the only Presidential candidate who would work to change the status quo can't get past Mr. Fancy Hair.

Dial back the politics here please, we have a forum for that.

While I believe some automakers are getting a freer pass than others, every ad I've seen that quotes fuel mileage estimates has the same disclaimer: "YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY".

Some vehicles get better than EPA estimates, some get worse, and I do believe a lot of that is in how the car is driven. Wasn't there some sort of revision in EPA testing a few years back that was designed to reflect a more honest result?

I think everyone understands the "your mileage may vary" part. But Honda did an ECM flash to the Civic as part of a TSB and fuel economy was further reduced by a significant amount.

I actually think this will work against Honda more than help them for the small price it would have cost them.

Honda was worried about precedent. Imagine all of the Civic hybrid owners suing them in small claims for $10,000.