Fiat Chrysler Rammed with Lawsuit Over 'Defeat Devices'

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Fiat Chrysler Automobile M.V. and subsidiary FCAUS, LLC are on the receiving end of a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that they manufactured and sold vehicles with “EcoDiesel” engines that failed to live up to their fuel-efficient, low-emission claims. According to the suit, 2014 to 2016 Ram 1500 and Jeep Ram Cherokee models were outfitted with “defeat devices” that were able to detect when they were being tested and cause the cars to perform better than they would under normal driving conditions. As a result, the vehicles appeared to be fuel efficient and environmentally friendly, but in reality, produced emissions that exceeded the legal level, the suit argues. The plaintiff alleges that Fiat Chrysler relied upon these false claims to market and sell its vehicles, and that consumers would have never purchased them, or would have paid a much lower price, if they had known the true value of the cars. According to the complaint, “[the defendants’] deliberative strategy devalues the Vehicles, harms the environment and has caused serious harm to the consumers and class members nationwide.”