U.S. accuses Fiat Chrysler of trying to mask emissions in 100,000 vehicles

[Stuart G]

Source: Washington Post

By Thomas Heath, May 23, 6:42 pm ET

The Justice Department filed a civil complaint Tuesday alleging that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles installed software designed to cheat emission controls in more than 100,000 diesel vehicles, including its popular Jeep Grand Cherokee sport-utility vehicle.

The lawsuit states nearly 104,000 vehicles are equipped with software functions that were not disclosed to regulators during the certification application process, and that the vehicles contain defeat devices, the Justice Department said in the complaint, which was filed Tuesday on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The complaint exposes Fiat to up to $4.6 billion in fines and covers 2014-16 model years of Jeep Grand Cherokees and Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pickups. The Ram pickups comprise the vast majority of the vehicles counted in the suit, according to Fiat Chrysler.

The EPA has declined to certify diesel Ram and Grand Cherokees since January, preventing Fiat Chrysler from selling those vehicles. Those models are the automakers two strongest sellers in the U.S. market.

Fiat Chrysler issued a statement saying it was disappointed with the lawsuit and said the auto giant intends to defend itself vigorously, particularly against any claims that the company engaged in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat U.S. emissions tests.



Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/us-accuses-fiat-chrysler-of-trying-to-mask-emissions-in-100000-vehicles/2017/05/23/10ad09d0-3fe0-11e7-adba-394ee67a7582_story.html

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You know, I think I have heard this somewhere before..like last year...hmmmm ... didn't VW have a problem like this...? cost them a few bucks????

Now...Fiat Chrysler..says it was.."disappointed" with the lawsuit.. and intends to "vigorously defend itself"...

What do you know.....say it ain't so..
.a company that claims it don't cheat...a mistake I suppose...104,000 vehicles.....

I can't believe it...."The complaint exposes Fiat to up to $4.6 billion in fines"...........oh my?..
A big company like that, would never do anything like that??? eh???

[jmowreader]

1. I called this when the VW scandal hit

Mark my words: EVERY company currently selling a diesel light vehicle in the US market is cheating. I don't care whether it's a Duramax, a PowerStroke, a Cummins, the Italian diesels FCA is putting in their small rigs, a VW TDI or what have you, the diesel emissions standards now in effect are stringent enough that the automakers have three choices: eat the upcharge (which would bankrupt them), charge what the vehicle is actually worth (which would make diesels as popular as Donald Trump) or cheat.

[Stuart G]

2. Thank You for your post...I like the last 2 words you wrote..."or cheat"