Lincoln's MKZ Hybrid mileage was overstated by 7 mpg. Ford is restating the mileage for six models overall.
Ford is going to be putting out some more cash due to mileage rating issues on six of its new models. It’s the second time in less than a year it’s had to restate the mileage on a vehicle.
The company cut the rating on its 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ hybrid by 7 mpg as well as the 2014 Ford Fiesta, the hybrid and Energi versions of the 2013-14 Ford Fusion, the C-Max Hybrid and Energi by as much as 5 mpg.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker self reported the errors and worked with the agency to determine the correct numbers. The maker will reimburse more than 200,000 owners for the mistake with payments ranging from $125 to $1,050 depending upon the vehicle and if it was leased or purchased.
“This is our error. When we see an issue, we address it,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “That is why we notified EPA and lowered the fuel economy ratings for these vehicles.”
Last August, Ford lowered the fuel economy rating on the 2013 C-Max hybrid crossover from a combined 47 mpg to 43 mpg: about a 10% reduction. It also compensated customers for the cut.
Customers who purchased vehicles received $550 while those who leased got $325. Ford paid out more than $10 million to resolve the issue. In all, more than 32,000 were slated to receive some compensation. The current set of restatements affects more than 200,000 vehicles.
The error was found during some additional testing. Ford’s error was specific to a factor called “Total Road Load Horsepower,” or TRLHP. TRLHP is a vehicle-specific resistance level used in vehicle dynamometer testing that determines fuel economy ratings, according to Ford. TRLHP is established through engineering models that are validated through vehicle testing, including physical track tests referred to as coastdown testing.
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Based on coastdown testing of the Fusion Hybrid, Ford discovered the TRLHP did not match the values used for the dynamometer testing.
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“Upon further testing, Ford also discovered an error specific to how we correlate wind tunnel results into the TRLHP model. Ford’s error was the result of a recent process change, which the company has since corrected,” the maker said.
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Ford’s not alone with these types of errors. In fact, Hyundai and Kia Motors admitted overstating mileage on nearly 1.1 million vehicles in North America sold since 2010, including about 900,000 in the United States. After the admission in 2012, the automakers, which are owned by the same parent company, set aside about $400 million for goodwill payments and to resolve lawsuits filed by buyers. The EPA is still investigating the issue.
Ford Should Look AT THERE MISTAKE AT STOPING THE
BEST SMALL TRUCK THE “RANGER”… BIG MISTAKE.
Larry Dee Sather
VALUE-RITE INSURANCE SERVICE…
The EPA should educate the general public that EPA mpg ratings are based on a very specific test that the EPA has designed to represent what they believe is a “typical consumer driving pattern”. The results can vary significantly in actual practice based on environmental conditions, weather, driving style, etc. and is only a reference point for comparing cars of similar EPA test result mileage. There is a reason why the EPA rating has a disclaimer that states: “YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY”.
The reason you mileage may vary is because of the MANY factors involved as noted above. If a car maker is conducting PROPER EPA tests and posting those numbers as required by law – they should NOT be forced to compensate drivers who’s operational driving factors deliver less than the EPA test reference point shows as the EPA rating is clearly just a guide NOT an absolute or a guarantee.
The EPA is the one guilty here not the car makers, as long as the EPA test data is legitimate. Once again the EPA has failed the populace just like with their mandated 54.5 mpg requirement pulled from their and Obama’s orifice.
Hi, Jorge,
I’m not willing to let the makers off the hook. They, for one thing, have a notorious history of tuning and tweaking specifically to maximize EPA results and will do that no matter what the EPA does to “fix” its tests. (Which it last did in ’08.) Secondly, despite proclamations to the contrary, the law DOES allow automakers to post mileage numbers that are more realistic…as long as they are equal to or LESS than the EPA test results. I have been told by several makers they know they’ll miss the ratings in real-world conditions but that they won’t adjust the figures for competitive reasons. Sorry, but that borders on fraud.
Paul A. Eisenstein
Publisher, TheDetroitBureau.com
As I said the EPA rating is a REFERENCE POINT not a guarantee. The reference point is based on a MANDATORY EPA test. As long as the test is properly conducted – then no auto maker should be forced to re-state their test results. It’s the EPA’s responsibility to educate consumers and they have failed the populace again.
Yes I understand that ALL auto makers tune for the best EPA mpg results. They would be foolish to do otherwise. As long as the test is conducted proerly the results should stand. And no it does NOT border on fraud to publish the EPA test results. You are 100% wrong on this one Paul.
The problem, Jorge, is that no test can capture properly the breadth of powertrain technologies, nor the conditions under which motorists drive. Heck, the industry has said forever, “mileage may vary,” but motorists still don’t take it to heart — especially if lawyers approach with promises of green. In the case of both Ford and Hyundai it seems they erred internally, forcing restatement.
Paul E.