One year after researchers at West Virginia University accidently stumbled upon a glaring quirk in the design of many of Volkswagen’s diesel vehicles, leadership at Volkswagen (VW) have finally issued a startling confession. In an effort to dupe both the government and consumers, Volkswagen diesel vehicles were equipped with “defeat device” software that would reduce emissions of pollutants by lowering fuel efficiency and performance, but only when the car was being tested. Once this vehicle was in normal operation, the defeat device would turn off the emission-reducing technology in order to regain maximum performance and fuel efficiency. Without the emission-reducing technology, these vehicles released forty times the approved amount of pollutants.
List of affected models can be found at the bottom of the page.
Volkswagen Diesel Emissions
These vehicles released into the air Nitrogen oxides, or NOx. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes this gas as a pollutant that “contributes to nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone, and fine particulate matter. Exposure to these pollutants has been linked with a range of serious health effects, including increased asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses that can be serious enough to send people to the hospital. Exposure to ozone and particulate matter has also been associated with premature death due to respiratory-related or cardiovascular-related effects. Children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory disease are particularly at risk for health effects of these pollutants.”
Due to these health risks and environmental concerns, vehicle manufacturers are required to certify to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that their products will meet applicable federal emission standards pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA). In addition, every vehicle that is sold in the United States must be covered by an EPA-issued certificate of conformity. Manufacturers cannot certify motor vehicles that are equipped with defeat devices. Volkswagen has violated the CAA by making and selling vehicles that produced higher levels of air emissions than were certified to EPA.
Obtain A Free Volkswagen Lawsuit Case Evaluation
Volkswagen owners bought their diesel vehicles for a combination of good gas mileage and clean emissions. These owners now face financial loss related to repairs and vehicle loss of value, as well has dealing with the stress of the vehicle recall and repair process. If you or a loved one has suffered damages related to the Volkswagen diesel vehicle recall, and you would like to learn more about your legal rights, please call The Weinberg Law Firm at 1-877-934-6274.
Response to Volkswagen Diesel Scandal
Today, Tuesday September 21, Volkswagen chairman Martin Winterkorn finally made a statement representing the position of VW leadership in regards to this scandal. Apparently, this position mainly involves “passing the buck”. In his video statement posted on the VW website, Winterkorn attributed the scam to “the grave errors of very few” employees. He continues on to defend “the hard and honest work” of the other hundreds of thousands of VW employees. In an effort to save the last remaining shreds of Volkswagen’s tattered public image, he begs, “…we ask – I ask – for your trust in our way forward. We will uncover this. I give you my word.”
To see the entirety of Winterkorn’s video statement, see Volkswagen C.E.O. Apology.
In punishment for violation of the CAA, VW may pay a penalty of as much as $37,500 for each recalled vehicle, or approximately $18 billion in summation. Additionally, the Justice Department, through the EPA, will reportedly be conducting a criminal investigation of Volkswagen. Already American politicians have begun to organize to bring to light the truth of this scandal, and see to it that all parties be appropriately reprimanded.
“It is an outrage that VW would take advantage of its consumers by purposely deceiving them on their mileage on diesel vehicles,” testified Senator Bill Nelson (FL-D) to the Senate in an appeal to have the Federal Trade Commission conduct a consumer protection investigation of VW. He expressed in dismay, “Has the corporate culture in what is an automobile society shrunk so low that we can’t be upfront when our products are defective or when we are trying to gain competitive advantage?”
Volkswagen Models Affects By “Defeat Device” Scandal
The allegations cover roughly 482,000 diesel passenger motor vehicles sold in the United States since 2008. Affected models include:
• Jetta (MY 2009 – 2015)
• Jetta Sportwagen (MY 2009 – 2014)
• Beetle (MY 2012 – 2015)
• Beetle Convertible (MY 2012 – 2015)
• Audi A3 (MY 2010 – 2015)
• Golf (MY 2010 – 2015)
• Golf Sportwagen (MY 2015)
• Passat (MY2012 – 2015)
