The EPA accuses Volkwagon of using software that evades clean air standards calling it “illegal and a threat to public health.”
The EPA says 4-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars from 2009-2015 include software that circumvents EPA emissions standards for certain air pollutants.
A Non-compliance letter has been issued to Volkswagen, and the EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have both initiated investigations based on Volkswagen’s alleged actions.
A sophisticated software algorithm on certain Volkswagen vehicles detects when the car is undergoing official emissions testing, and turns full emissions controls on only during the test, but during normal operation, spews nitrogen oxides at up to 40 times the standard.
Roughly 482,000 diesel passenger cars sold in the United States since 2008 are affected.
Affected diesel models include:
• Jetta (Model Years 2009 – 2015)
• Beetle (Model Years 2009 – 2015)
• Audi A3 (Model Years 2009 – 2015)
• Golf (Model Years 2009 – 2015)
• Passat (Model Years 2014-2015)
It is incumbent upon Volkswagen to initiate the process that will fix the cars’ emissions systems. Car owners should know that although these vehicles have emissions exceeding standards, these violations do not present a safety hazard and the cars remain legal to drive and resell.
Owners of cars of these models and years do not need to take any action at this time.
