Media

We continue to believe that the class action settlement pertaining to the fuel economy of some early-model Civic Hybrid vehicles represents a very good resolution for our customers. We look forward to a discussion with the State Attorneys General concerning the benefits that our customers will receive from the settlement.

In recent weeks, a number of news stories have generated some confusion concerning the details of the settlement.  This confusion includes incorrect information that the benefits to members of the class are limited to a $100 cash payment.

Honda has engaged in good faith negotiations with class action lawsuit plaintiffs’ attorneys in an effort to reach an agreement that clearly reflects our desire to preserve our good relationship with customers who are participating in this class action.  Depending on the class member’s circumstances, this settlement provides for multiple benefits and paths of resolution as detailed below.

• All settlement class members are entitled to either a $100 or $200 cash payment.  Further, class members are also eligible to receive rebate certificates of no less than $500 and up to $1,500 applicable to the purchase of a new Honda or Acura automobile.
• Class members of 2003 through 2008 model vehicles will also receive an extension of 12,000 miles or 12 months of the original written warranty for their vehicle’s IMA (hybrid) battery system, whichever comes first.
• As part of the warranty extension, any class member entitled to the extension who has already incurred some expense resulting from the replacement of the IMA battery, outside of the original warranty period, is also entitled to a full reimbursement of that expense.
• Subclass members—those with a 2006, 2007 or 2008 model year vehicle—who have had the recommended update to their vehicle’s battery module control software but remain dissatisfied with their vehicle’s fuel economy performance are also entitled to participate in binding dispute resolution by judicial arbitration, with or without an attorney, where additional remedies can be pursued based on each individual’s situation and without predetermined limits.

We are sorry for any inconvenience or other hardships experienced by our customers as a result of this issue. And, we want to ensure they have a full, clear understanding of the settlement.  More detailed information regarding this class action settlement is available online at http://www.hchsettlement.com/