On September 18, the EPA dropped a bombshell on the automotive world when they delivered a violation notice to Volkswagen AG. It seems that the automotive giant may have been cheating on their emissions tests, and now VW will pay the price for illegal defeat devices.
How Do The Illegal Defeat Devices Work?
A group of researchers at West Virginia University’s Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions became suspicious of the VW four-cylinder TDI engine while running tests with the International Council on Clean Transportation. The scientists immediately started rigorous testing which confirmed that the test car’s computer was switching fueling settings according to whether or not the vehicle was undergoing an emissions test. This qualified the car’s computer as an illegal defeat device.
The California Air Resources Board later confirmed the findings, which led to a showdown between Volkswagen and the EPA. The auto manufacturer quickly admitted its wrong doing. Now the company is recalling 11 million vehicles—482,000 in the US—and trying to come up with a solution for this massive lie.
How Can They Fix Affected Cars?
A mechanical fix could cost billions of dollars on top of the anticipated fines that the EPA might soon levy against the company. Such a fix could take months to implement, and could cost VW owners weeks as they wait for the repairs to be carried out. If Volkswagen tries to fix the problem by changing computer programming, then many TDI diesel owners could suddenly find their cars under-powered and unable to handle their daily commutes.
The lies of Volkswagen may cost consumers in ways they never imagined, and the class action attorneys at Colson Hicks Eidson want those consumers to know that there are many ways to protect themselves. Visit our VW recall page for more tips on protecting yourself, and stay up-to-date by following our blog.
Colson Hicks Eidson — Personal Injury Attorneys
