Class Actions Add Up Against Kia & Hyundai

CLAYTON, Mo. (CN) - Numerous class actions claim that Kia and Hyundai misled consumers about their vehicles' gas mileage.

Kia has been hit with at least five class actions around the nation since Nov. 1, when the EPA complained that it exaggerated its vehicles' mileage.

The EPA also complained about Hyundai, which faces at least six class actions, some of them as co-defendant with Kia.

In St. Louis this week, lead plaintiff Brian Reeves said he bought a 2012 Kia Soul based on Kia's claim that it got 26 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway. Reeves sued only Kia, for the class.

Reeves said he bought the car on June 9, almost 5 months before the Environmental Protection Agency released the results of an audit of Kia vehicles.

"The EPA audit found that the gas mileage for many Kia models were lower than Kia had represented," the complaint states. "Specifically, the audit found that mileage ratings were lower than previously represented for the following models:

(a) Optima;

(b) Rio;

(c) Sorento;

(d) Soul and Soul ECO; and

(e) Sportage.

"With respect to the particular Kia Soul that plaintiff purchased, the mileage ratings were actually 23 miles per gallon for city driving and 28 miles per gallon for highway driving."

Reeves seeks damages and punitive damages for violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. He is represented by in St. Louis County Court by Jason Charpentier with Growe Eisen Karlen, in St. Louis.

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