Fiat Chrysler Should Pay Penalties for Excess Pollution

Media Contacts

Automaker Should Offer Buybacks if it Cheated Customers

U.S. PIRG

Statement by Mike Litt, Consumer Advocate at U.S. PIRG on the EPA’s allegations against Fiat Chrysler for using software in some EcoDiesel vehicles that allow them to exceed pollution limits.

We commend the EPA for its investigation to determine whether software in 104,000 “EcoDiesel” vehicles is a defeat device intended to cheat emissions tests.

Fiat Chrysler should be fined with maximum penalties for the excess pollution their vehicles have emitted.

If this software turns out to be a defeat device, Fiat Chrysler must make it up to customers for their falsely marketed “EcoDiesel” engines. Making consumers whole would mean buying back their vehicles at full purchase price. There would also need to be criminal investigations.

Accountability in the VW scandal is being ensured because various parties got involved. Government regulators, consumer and environmental advocacy groups, the state attorneys general, a class-action lawsuit, criminal investigations, and public outcry all worked together to hold the company and executives accountable. We will need the same effort with Chrysler if their software turns out to be a defeat device.

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U.S.PIRG is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations that stand up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security, or our right to fully participate in our democratic society. On the web at uspirg.org.