German automaker Volkswagen (VW) cheated vehicle emission tests by installing software that fraudulently restricted pollution only when the vehicle was tested for it. VW installed the software, known as a “defeat device,” in more than 11 million vehicles worldwide. Vehicles impacted by the fraud include:
The defeat device software in these VW cars skirts EPA clean air standards, illegally threatening public health. The software in these cars detects when the vehicle is being tested for emissions and activates the full emissions control only during the test. When these Volkswagen vehicles are operated normally on the road, they emit nitrogen oxide at up to 40 times the legal limit.
The Cochran Firm, D.C. is actively investigating claims related to VW’s fraudulent emissions defeat devices. If you or a family member drives a Volkswagen vehicle affected by a defeat device, please contact our team of experienced attorneys. We offer free consultations during business hours at 202-682-5800 or call 1-800-THE-FIRM (843-3476) to reach our national hotline 24 hours a day. Because strict time deadlines apply, we recommend contacting us at your earliest convenience.
On Sept. 18, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a Clean Air Act violation notice to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. The EPA alleges that Volkswagen installed software on hundreds of thousands of diesel cars to evade federal emissions laws. Volkswagen marketed the vehicles as using “Clean Diesel.”
The Clean Air Act requires carmakers to certify that its vehicles meet federal emission regulations limiting air pollution. Under the Act, a defeat device is defined as “an auxiliary emission control device (AECD) that reduces the effectiveness of emission controls under conditions that the [car] may reasonably be expected to encounter during normal operation and use.” See 40 C.F.R. 1033.115(f). In other words, defeat devices are gadgets designed to trick emissions testers.
VW has established a $7.2 billion fund to cover the expected cost of the emissions fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice has also reportedly opened a criminal investigation into VW’s environmental cheating scandal. Almost 500,000 VW cars with defeat devices were sold in America. Under the Clean Air Act, Volkswagen faces up to $37,500 in fines for each vehicle sold with a fraudulent defeat device.
Contact a VW Recall Class Action Lawyer for Free
The Cochran Firm, D.C.’s attorneys have recovered millions on behalf of injured victims and defrauded consumers. Although we cannot guarantee a recovery for any client, our attorneys are experienced in designing winning litigation and trying cases before juries. If you or someone you love drives a VW car affected by the fraudulent emissions software, please contact The Cochran Firm, D.C. at 202-682-5800 during business hours. You can also call our national hotline 24 hours a day at 1-800-THE-FIRM (843-4376). Because strict time deadlines apply, we recommend contacting us at your earliest convenience.
We offer free, private consultations to individuals affected by VW’s fraudulent emissions software. Because we represent clients on a contingency basis, there are no fees unless you win.
