Saturday Brings Key Deadline For Honda Civic Hybrid Owners Disappointed In Fuel Economy

Woman's Small Claims Court Win Could Rock Entire Auto Industry

Since an improbable victory over Honda last week in a California small-claims court, a woman who sued over the disappointing fuel economy on her Civic hybrid says she has fielded hundreds of inquiries from disgruntled owners asking how they can follow in her footsteps.

Heather Peters says she has been happy to answer questions, and she's curious to see how many file small-claims court cases of their own. She's not the only one.

Automakers, legal experts and consumer-rights advocates are keeping an eye on what happens in the aftermath of her victory. Every car company today must advertise fuel economy to comply with regulation. But many--Ford, Hyundai, Chevy, Toyota and Honda, for example-- regularly trumpet fuel economy ratings in an attempt to convey quality and innovation, as well as appeal to pocketbooks when gas prices spike. They'll all have a clearer idea of what they are facing from disappointed consumers and judges soon.

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