U.S. Catches Hyundai, Kia Overstating U.S. Mileage Claims

The U.S. units of Hyundai Motor Co. and affiliate Kia Motors Corp. overstated fuel economy numbers on the new-car window stickers on 35% of the vehicles they sold over the past two years.

The brands have apologized for what they say was an inadvertent misstatement of mileage estimates for about 900,000 cars from the 2011-2013 model years. They say the error originated with a flawed procedure at the company's South Korean testing center.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the company to lower fuel efficiency claims by 1-4 miles per gallon for 13 Hyundai and Kia vehicles from the 2012 and 2013 model years. The agency also could levy fines against the company.

Adjusting the data will reduce Hyundai-Kia's 2012 city/highway fleet average fuel economy to 26 mpg from 27 mpg, according to the company. It has not disclosed a cost estimate expected to be millions of dollars for reimbursing customers for the discrepancy.

Such revisions to mileage estimates are rare. The EPA tells The Detroit News that until now it had required the reduction of fuel economy figures for only two models since 2000.