EPA Slaps Fiat Chrysler With Clean Air Act Violations

By Glynn Wilson –

A day after announcing fines totaling $4.3 billion against Volkswagen, the outgoing Obama administration put Fiat Chrysler on notice for similar violations of the Clean Air Act.

Fiat Chrysler 300x185 - EPA Slaps Fiat Chrysler With Clean Air Act Violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation to Fiat Chrysler for allegedly installing and failing to disclose engine management software in Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks with 3.0 liter diesel engines sold in the United States in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

“The undisclosed software results in increased emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the vehicles,” the EPA said in the announcement.

The allegations cover roughly 104,000 vehicles, and the EPA is working in coordination with the California Air Resources Board, which has also issued a notice of violation after initiated investigations.

“Failing to disclose software that affects emissions in a vehicle’s engine is a serious violation of the law, which can result in harmful pollution in the air we breathe,” said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “We continue to investigate the nature and impact of these devices. All automakers must play by the same rules, and we will continue to hold companies accountable that gain an unfair and illegal competitive advantage.”

The Clean Air Act requires vehicle manufacturers to demonstrate to EPA through a certification process that their products meet applicable federal emission standards to control air pollution. Automakers are required to disclose and explain any software, known as auxiliary emission control devices, that can alter how a vehicle emits air pollution.

“Once again, a major automaker made the business decision to skirt the rules and got caught,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. “CARB and U.S. EPA made a commitment to enhanced testing as the Volkswagen case developed, and this is a result of that collaboration.”

Fiat Chrysler did not disclose the existence of certain auxiliary emission control devices to EPA in its applications for certificates of conformity, despite being aware that such a disclosure was mandatory.

“By failing to disclose this software and then selling vehicles that contained it, FCA violated important provisions of the Clean Air Act,” the EPA says.

Fiat Chrysler may be liable for civil penalties and injunctive relief. EPA is also investigating whether the auxiliary emission control devices constitute “defeat devices,” which are illegal.

In September 2015, EPA instituted an expanded testing program to screen for defeat devices on light duty vehicles. This testing revealed that the Fiat Chrysler vehicle models in question produce increased NOx emissions under conditions that would be encountered in normal operation and use. As part of the investigation, EPA has found at least eight undisclosed pieces of software that can alter how a vehicle emits air pollution.

The company could not be reached for comment, but its statement will be added when it is released.

We hope you enjoyed this article.

Before you continue, I’d like to ask if you could support our independent journalism as we head into one of the most critical news periods of our time in 2024.

The New American Journal is deeply dedicated to uncovering the escalating threats to our democracy and holding those in power accountable. With a turbulent presidential race and the possibility of an even more extreme Trump presidency on the horizon, the need for independent, credible journalism that emphasizes the importance of the upcoming election for our nation and planet has never been greater.

However, a small group of billionaire owners control a significant portion of the information that reaches the public. We are different. We don’t have a billionaire owner or shareholders. Our journalism is created to serve the public interest, not to generate profit. Unlike much of the U.S. media, which often falls into the trap of false equivalence in the name of neutrality, we strive to highlight the lies of powerful individuals and institutions, showing how misinformation and demagoguery can harm democracy.

Our journalists provide context, investigate, and bring to light the critical stories of our time, from election integrity threats to the worsening climate crisis and complex international conflicts. As a news organization with a strong voice, we offer a unique, outsider perspective that is often missing in American media.

Thanks to our unique reader-supported model, you can access the New American journal without encountering a paywall. This is possible because of readers like you. Your support keeps us independent, free from external influences, and accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for news.

Please help if you can.

American journalists need your help more than ever as forces amass against the free press and democracy itself. We must not let the crypto-fascists and the AI bots take over.

See the latest GoFundMe campaign here or click on this image.

watchdog medium1a - EPA Slaps Fiat Chrysler With Clean Air Act Violations

Don't forget to listen to the new song and video.

Just because we are not featured on cable TV news talk shows, or TikTok videos, does not mean we are not getting out there in search engines and social media sites. We consistently get over a million hits a month.

Click to Advertise Here

NAJ 2024 traffic Sept - EPA Slaps Fiat Chrysler With Clean Air Act Violations