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Warranty issue at Honda: About 6 million Honda and Acura owners will get extensions of leases or warranties, or in some cases refunds, as part of a $16 million-plus settlement stemming from faulty odometers, which chalked up miles too quickly. Because of the defective odometers, warranties expired earlier than they should have. As part of a tentative class-action settlement, American Honda Motor Co. will:

Extend by 5 percent the mileage-based coverage period of its warranties.
Extend mileage allowed in leases by 5 percent.
Reimburse customers for repairs made just after their warranties expired.
Refund $6.1 million in fees for exceeding mileage limits to about 25,000 former leaseholders, who will receive $265 each.

"People who had been making the 300-mile trip to Grandma's house found out that Grandma had moved 12 miles away when they bought a Honda," said James Holmes, an attorney for the car owners. "With everything you know about Japanese engineering, it's hard to believe 2 or 3 percent just slipped past them," he said. (Source: The Detroit News, February 20, 2007)