Ram Truck Owners Are Suing FCA Over Rigged Diesel Emissions

The near nuclear fallout over Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal is only now beginning to cool off, but there could be another similar case of diesel emissions wrongdoing in the works. According to Automotive News, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is being sued by Ram truck owners who are claiming that "engines in some Ram pickup trucks were rigged to hide that emissions were as much as 14 times higher than permitted by law."

It also accuses FCA and its diesel partner Cummins of hiding the fact that "pollutants that were supposed to have been broken down inside the diesel engines instead had a tendency to escape," thus nearly doubling emissions and overall reducing fuel efficiency. The lawsuit also questions the so-called "credibility of clean-diesel technology." What's interesting is that the suit claims 2007-2012 Ram pickups "predate the first known sales of emissions-cheating by Volkswagen by two years." All told, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of nearly 500,000 Ram 2500 and 3500 owners. For its part, FCA is still reviewing the legal materials and plans to "contest the lawsuit vigorously."

Cummins, beginning in 2002, worked closely with then Chrysler to develop and manufacture these engines that were designed specifically for heavy-duty vehicles. It is being accused of knowingly building a flawed engine which failed to "store or dispose" excess Nitrous Oxide, or NOx, gas pollutants that produce smog and acid rain. In related news, this class action lawsuit comes at the same time that FCA and Cummins themselves are arguing over costs involving a $200 million recall regarding 130,000 2013-2015 Ram 2500 pickups powered by the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel that possibly exceeds US emissions standards.