“Emissions cheating” – it’s not just for Volkswagens anymore, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since the German automaker’s epic emissions scam was first uncovered more than three years ago, EPA has cracked down hard on emissions violators in the U.S., and a year ago the agency revealed that certain diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs and Ram 1500 pickups were also equipped with “defeat devices” for emissions tests. These findings resulted in the filing of a lawsuit against FCA in May 2017.
The Justice Department later extended an offer to the beleaguered automaker, per the agreement that it would recall 104,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram trucks, and pay a hefty monetary penalty, according to Bloomberg.
EPA initially notified FCA that the vehicles were found to contain auxiliary emissions control devices that allow them to emit higher-than-permitted levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx), a poisonous gas deemed to be harmful to human health and the environment.
The agency noted at the time that FCA could face potential fines nearing $5 billion (with a “b”), in addition to the astronomical expenses associated with conducting a recall on said vehicles. The Justice Department alleged that FCA had used the software to pass laboratory emissions tests while allowing the vehicles to exceed pollution standards in real-world driving situations.
Source: Autoweek