FCA Slammed With Twin Lawsuits While Waiting on EPA Investigation
The Environmental Protection Agency alleged last week Fiat Chrysler Automobiles had installed undisclosed emissions software in 104,000 of its diesel vehicles — issuing the company a notice of violation for its Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500.
While the EPA continues its investigation into whether or not FCA will become the next Volkswagen, Canadian law firm Sotos LLP and America’s Heninger Garrison Davis LLC have coincidentally teamed-up to launch class action lawsuits on behalf of consumers.
These new suits are linked to the 2014 to 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 models equipped with the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 the EPA is so keenly interested in right now. However, there is an outstanding and unrelated law suit over Cummins equipped Ram models from 2007 to 2012.
The Sotos suit is seeking $250 million in damages against FCA Canada on behalf of affected owners. Filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the document states it is seeking compensation and faults the company with poor conduct, civil conspiracy, and corporate negligence. Meanwhile, Heninger Garrison Davis have not yet disclosed the amount of compensation it will be seeking but it did openly refer to the emissions software as “defeat devices.”
Potentially following in Volkswagen’s footsteps, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles also faces a possible fine of up to $4.62 billion — based upon the cost per vehicle and the number of trucks produced for the 2014 through 2016 model years.
[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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The EPA has had several years to better define when it's appropriate to use its power and when it's prudent to exercise some discretion. They did not take advantage of that opportunity, something they will soon regret. Shakedown artists.
Even an attempt VW'ish type action against a large American'ish company by the EPA with an anti-regulation President that is selling himself as "making America great" would be Agency suicide.
Filing these suits already is really premature as the EPA is still investigating. I predict that fines will be assessed for technical violations but this is not Dieselgate II. If only the government was this aggressive with defects that actually put people in the ground.
"GUTS. GLORY. DECEPTION. RAM." Just rolls right off the tongue.