In August 2016, another class-action lawsuit was filed against General Motors (GM) for allegedly misrepresenting the EPA-fuel economy ratings and gas mileage estimates of certain vehicles, including the Chevrolet Traverses, Buick Enclaves, GMC Acadias, and Saturn Outlooks. According to the complaint, the company advertised the vehicles as traveling 17 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and having a combined rating of 19 mpg when, in reality, the vehicles travel 15 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and have a combined rating of 17 mpg. (Shannon et al v. General Motors, LLC, Case No. 16-cv-4932, D. NJ.)
For more information about other class-action lawsuits regarding the advertising of mpg of vehicles and TINA.org’s coverage of the issue, click here.
Allegations: Marketing that the eight-speed Hydra-Matic 8L90 and Hydra-Matic 8L45 transmissions in vehicles provide “comfort,” “drivability,” and “lightning-fast” and smooth shifting when the transmissions may cause vehicles to suddenly lurch…
Allegations: Marketing vehicles as safe and reliable when engines can suffer damage, fail or lose propulsion due to a defect
Allegations: Failing to disclose that data regarding consumers’ driving behavior collected by OnStar is shared with third parties
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles
Allegations: Falsely marketing vehicles as safe, durable, and reliable
Allegations: Deceptively marketing vehicles as “Clean Diesel”
Allegations: Falsely marketing filters as Made in USA
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing vehicles as safe and functional when there is a risk the batteries will catch on fire
Allegations: Overstating the weight that vehicles can safely pull
TINA.org reader flags “ultimate apples to oranges” comparison.
When companies green it, they better mean it.
The oil isn’t the only thing that needs changing at this Chevrolet dealership.
Not all of the puffed-up claims in this TV ad can be defended as puffery.
A closer look at the who, what, when, where and why.