General Motors Co. (IW 500/5) will spend about $100 million to reimburse customers who bought 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave sport utility vehicles with overstated fuel economy figures, said a person familiar with the matter.
Fuel economy was overstated by 1 to 2 miles per gallon because the company failed to reflect new emissions-related hardware in calculations of efficiency for window stickers, according to a statement.
The 135,000 owners of the SUVs will receive a debit card or a 48-month, 60,000-mile protection plan, GM said in an e-mail. The company notified dealers today and will start sending letters to vehicle owners on May 25.
GM last Friday told dealers to stop selling the models because it had found the window-sticker errors, which it described as “inadvertent.” Most lessees and buyers taking the cards will get $450 to $900 in value and some will get as much as $1,500, depending on lease terms and the amount of mileage overstated.
