Consumer Champion: Honda Civic Hybrid Owner Beats Honda In Court

A great consumer victory Wednesday in Los Angeles: A county court commissioner ruled that Honda negligently misled an owner of 2006 Civic hybrid when it claimed the car would get up to 50 miles per gallon. She says she typically got in the low 40s per gallon, then 30 mpg after a software update designed to improve battery life.
The court awarded Heather Peters $9,867.19 in damages, close to the $10,000 maximum allowed in small claims court.
Peters sued when she found out a proposed settlement would pay lawyers $8.5 million while Civic hybrid owners could get maybe $100 and rebates toward the purchase of a new car.
It’s not over yet for Peters, though. Honda says it will appeal.