VW and Audi Diesel Fraud: Jettas, Golfs, Passats, Beetles, A3s all Subject of Sales Fraud and Pollution Problems

Volkswagen / Audi Diesel news flash: the manufacturer now admits that 11 million of its vehicles worldwide were equipped with software that could be used to dupe emissions control tests.
This scandal erupted after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation of the Clean Air Act to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. on September 18, 2015.  In the notice, the agency alleged “the four-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars from model years 2009-2015 include[d] software that circumvent[ed] EPA emissions standards for certain air pollutants.” In particular, the EPA contended that Volkswagen manufactured and installed software in some of its vehicles that could sense when the car was being tested for compliance with EPA emissions standards. Purportedly, the software knew when the vehicle was being tested based on various inputs, including the position of the steering wheel, vehicle speed, the duration of the engine’s operation and barometric pressure. Thus, during testing the software produced compliant emission results, but otherwise emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) increased by a factor of 10 to 40 times EPA compliant levels. The notice provided that the affected vehicles included: Jetta Sportwagen (MY 2009-2014); Beetle (MY 2012-2015); Beetle Convertible (MY 2012-2015); Audi A3 (MY 2010-2015); Golf (MY 2010-2015); Golf Sportwagen (MY 2015); and Passat (MY 2012-2015).

If you bought or leased one of these vehicles in California,  you should get a free consultation by a consumer lawyer at The Hanson Law Firm 858.451.0291.