Woman beats Honda in suit over fuel economy

LOS ANGELES -- A Southern California woman took Honda to small-claims court and won in a big way.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Douglas Carnahan ruled Wednesday that the automaker misled Heather Peters about the potential fuel economy of her hybrid car and awarded her $9,867 -- much more than the couple hundred dollars cash that a proposed class-action settlement is offering.

"At a bare minimum, Honda was aware … that by the time Peters bought her car there were problems with its living up to its advertised mileage," Mr. Carnahan wrote in the judgment.

Honda disagrees and plans to appeal, spokesman Chris Martin said in a statement.

Ms. Peters, a former lawyer, said she is renewing her legal license after a 10-year lapse so she can represent Honda owners with the same problems.

"I am absolutely thrilled," she said when informed of the judge's decision. "Sometimes big justice comes in small packages. This is a victory for Civic owners everywhere."

Mr. Carnahan included in his 26-page decision a long list of misleading representations by Honda that he said Ms. Peters had correctly identified. Among them were that the car would use "amazingly little fuel," "provides plenty of horsepower while still sipping fuel," and would "save plenty of money on fuel with up to 50 mpg during city driving."

"Actual performance of plaintiff's vehicle did not live up to standards," he said.