Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - New numbers out Wednesday show that despite the purpose of the widely popular "Cash for Clunkers" program, many of the trades made did not improve mileage all that much.
It seems a lot of drivers who cashed in on the program, traded in gas guzzling pick-up trucks and SUV’s for newer pick-ups and SUV's that got just a few more miles per gallon.
Under the freedom of information law, the Associated Press got their hands on Federal data that showed the most popular swap under the Cash for Clunkers program was the Ford 150 pick-up truck. More than 8,000 people across the country traded their old one in, for a brand new model.
The new F-150's get between 15 and 17 miles per gallon, which means drivers got the $3500-$4500 credit to buy a new truck that only improved their mileage by three miles per gallon at most.
The government reported spending more than $500,000 in rebates for new vehicles that got the same or worse mileage than their trade-in. Those cases are being investigated to see if dealers entered the information incorrectly or used outdated fuel numbers.
Also being investigated are 15 deals, where owners of large pick-up trucks cashed them in and used the credit to buy H3 hummers. That may not technically be in violation of the program, because they get the required mileage, but it's certainly not what lawmakers intended when they put this plan in place.
New York dealers sold the 3rd most vehicles under the cash for clunkers program. The most popular new car here during that time was the Hyundai Elantra.
On average, those who replaced their clunkers saw an improvement in their fuel economy of 9 miles per gallon.
