Associated Press Archive

September 10, 2002 Hyundai overstates horsepower in marketing material JOHN PORRETTO AP Business Writer Hyundai Motor America said Monday it overstated horsepower ratings for some of its cars in marketing materials dating back a decade. The average overstatement was 4.6 horsepower for 1.3 million vehicles in a number of model lines.

"It has no impact on the safety or reliability of the vehicles," HMA president and chief executive Finbarr O'Neill said. "Obviously I'm quite regretful and very sorry that this has occurred and for any concern it would raise among Hyundai customers." Models with misstated horsepower ratings include the Sonata, Accent, Tiburon and Elantra. The 1997 and 1998 Sonata 2.0 liter had the largest overstatement; the published horsepower was 137 when it actually was 125. The 1992-94 Sonata and the 2001 Accent were the only models with published horsepower less than actual horsepower. Hyundai said the errors occurred because the automaker didn't have a procedure to verify that preliminary horsepower matched actual horsepower, which O'Neill said the company has rectified. To atone for the mistake, the automaker is offering a choice of three warranty-enhancement options for customers with 2000 and later models. For those with 1999 or older models, the company is offering five-year roadside assistance coverage. Hyundai Motor America, based in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. in South Korea.

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