Volkswagen facing billions in EPA fines plus recalls over software that evades EPA emissions standards

[Mr. Ambien]

This is actually pretty innovative.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday ordered Volkswagen to fix nearly 500,000 VW and Audi diesel cars that the agency said are intentionally violating clean air laws by using software that evades EPA emissions standards.

VW, which owns Audi, faces billions of dollars in fines, although exact amounts were not determined.

The cars, all built in the last seven years, include a device programmed to detect when they are undergoing official emissions testing, the EPA said, adding that the cars only turn on full emissions control systems during that testing. The controls are turned off during normal driving situations, the EPA said.

The EPA called the company's use of the device illegal and a threat to public health.

The EPA called on VW to fix the cars' emissions systems, but said car owners do not need to take any immediate action. The violations do not present a safety hazard and the cars remain legal to drive and sell, the EPA said.

The German automaker said in a statement it is cooperating with the investigation, but declined further comment.

The EPA said VW faces fines of up to $37,500 per vehicle for the violations -- a total of more than $18 billion. No final total was announced.

Despite the seriousness of the violation, the EPA said VW will be given "a reasonable amount of time to develop a plan to complete the repairs," including both the repair procedure and manufacture of any needed parts.

It could take up to a year to identify corrective actions, develop a recall plan and issue recall notices, the EPA said.

The allegations cover roughly 482,000 diesel passenger cars sold in the United States since 2008. Affected 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)

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/09/18/epa-says-vw-intentionally-violates-clean-air-standards/?intcmp=hpbt1

.. but of course makes the EPA angry.

[inane]

Why would they do that? If they install the device anyway, what's the point?

[riffraff]

Das Aircare.

[aGENT]

Interesting...I wonder if this is the reason a lot of 2016 TDI's have been help in ports (even though the article only mentions 2009-2015)...

[TheRussianRocket.]

German Engineering still the best. Can't beat it. Love my VW <3

[Armada]

German Engineering still the best. Can't beat it. Love my VW <3

I echo this sentiment.

Love my VW and have never had an issues.

[WHL rocks]

Saw this earlier today, couldn't believe VW would do this kind of a fraud. What were they thinking? This brings incredible bad publicity to the company.

[Armada]

Saw this earlier today, couldn't believe VW would do this kind of a fraud. What were they thinking? This brings incredible bad publicity to the company.

What GM did was way worse. They simply ignored a fault with their cars that has killed over 100 people. However, their penalty is only $900M. (Which does not make much sense in comparison with what VW did)

As the number of deaths linked to defective cars made by General Motorshas steadily risen to 124, victims’ families have waited for the answer to a burning question: How will federal prosecutors hold the automaker accountable for its decade-long failure to disclose the defect?

On Thursday, they got their answer, and many were disappointed.

In a settlement with prosecutors, no individual employees were charged, and the Justice Department agreed to defer prosecution of the company for three years. If G.M. adheres to the agreement, which includes independent monitoring of its safety practices, the company can have its record wiped clean.

And even though General Motors will pay a $900 million penalty, it was 25 percent less than the record $1.2 billion Toyota agreed to pay last year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/18/business/gm-to-pay-us-900-million-over-ignition-switch-flaw.html

[Mr.DirtyDangles]

I know the cult following is huge but after having worked for and owned VW's I have to say they are the worst cars I have ever come across. I will say they are the best first impression car out there. Descent styling and interior, moderate performance and good safety ratings. Although while working for VW I could not believe the amount of factory problems that would arise within the first year of purchase.

The classic simple German engineering the world came to know and love is long gone. Filled with a host of useless tech and horribly over priced parts. Possibly the weakest factory transmission and clutches on the planet. Some customers at the dealership were back every other week or month to replace or fix something that was related to the last problem.

Being a massive gear head and having owned over 40+ cars my experiences with VW's were a cascading nightmare of parts and money.

[WHL rocks]

What GM did was way worse. They simply ignored a fault with their cars that has killed over 100 people. However, their penalty is only $900M. (Which does not make much sense in comparison with what VW did)

Just shows you how these billion dollar companies just don't care about anything else but the bottom line. The 900 million penalty is surprising. But it is an American company so it's expected the US wouldn't want to hurt the company too much. VW being German is likely to get a lot higher fine. The article I read earlier said it would be several billion dollars.

[aGENT]

Just shows you how these billion dollar companies just don't care about anything else but the bottom line. The 900 million penalty is surprising. But it is an American company so it's expected the US wouldn't want to hurt the company too much. VW being German is likely to get a lot higher fine. The article I read earlier said it would be several billion dollars.

Pending fines and actual fines are generally VASTLY different. VW won't end up paying anywhere near $18B.

[WHL rocks]

Pending fines and actual fines are generally VASTLY different. VW won't end up paying anywhere near $18B.

yeah, I agree it'd highly unlikely to be that high. What I don't understand is how a huge company like this plans and initiate a mega fraud like this. What were they thinking and how do they explain this to VW customers.

[Armada]

I know the cult following is huge but after having worked for and owned VW's I have to say they are the worst cars I have ever come across. I will say they are the best first impression car out there. Descent styling and interior, moderate performance and good safety ratings. Although while working for VW I could not believe the amount of factory problems that would arise within the first year of purchase.

The classic simple German engineering the world came to know and love is long gone. Filled with a host of useless tech and horribly over priced parts. Possibly the weakest factory transmission and clutches on the planet. Some customers at the dealership were back every other week or month to replace or fix something that was related to the last problem.

Being a massive gear head and having owned over 40+ cars my experiences with VW's were a cascading nightmare of parts and money.

I don't doubt that you have way more experience then myself or my family.

However, we have owned a variety of different Volkswagen's over a 15 year span and have little never had one issue.

I guess we have been more fortunate.

[Mr.DirtyDangles]

yeah, I agree it'd highly unlikely to be that high. What I don't understand is how a huge company like this plans and initiate a mega fraud like this. What were they thinking and how do they explain this to VW customers.

...about their bottom line that's what Cars are engineered to fail some more than others.

[aGENT]

yeah, I agree it'd highly unlikely to be that high. What I don't understand is how a huge company like this plans and initiate a mega fraud like this. What were they thinking and how do they explain this to VW customers.

I fairness we haven't really heard VW's side of this... I'm sure there's a LOT more to this story.

[Mr.DirtyDangles]

I don't doubt that you have way more experience then myself or my family.

However, we have owned a variety of different Volkswagen's over a 15 year span and have little never had one issue.

I guess we have been more fortunate.

Honestly in my mind the owners are the true factors of a cars longevity. The way one drives and maintains their car is paramount. I have no doubt your family and countless others know how to maintain and drive car properly but these new models with all their bells and whistles seem to be literally falling apart. I think this way about most car manufactures now not just VW.

Each manufacturer has turned into a cost cutting nazi for obvious reasons and we the consumers are suffering greatly with quality.

[ice orca]

I know the cult following is huge but after having worked for and owned VW's I have to say they are the worst cars I have ever come across. I will say they are the best first impression car out there. Descent styling and interior, moderate performance and good safety ratings. Although while working for VW I could not believe the amount of factory problems that would arise within the first year of purchase.

The classic simple German engineering the world came to know and love is long gone. Filled with a host of useless tech and horribly over priced parts. Possibly the weakest factory transmission and clutches on the planet. Some customers at the dealership were back every other week or month to replace or fix something that was related to the last problem.

Being a massive gear head and having owned over 40+ cars my experiences with VW's were a cascading nightmare of parts and money.

Thats odd i have a 2013 golf tdi and never have had a problem. GM's and Fords i have owned were pure money pits and left me stranded more than once.

[WHL rocks]

This isn't about quality of the vehicle. VW makes excellent cars and IMO better than domestic manufacturers.

This is about VW committing fraud by rigging their cars to test for much much lower emissions during testing than they actually produce during normal driving. They installed software in the cars which deceives regulators measuring toxic emissions.

[WHL rocks]

I fairness we haven't really heard VW's side of this... I'm sure there's a LOT more to this story.

yes, true. So far VW has only said that they are cooperating with the investigators.

[Mr.DirtyDangles]

Thats odd i have a 2013 golf tdi and never have had a problem. GM's and Fords i have owned were pure money pits and left me stranded more than once.

You never hear of the multiple class action lawsuits but trust me they are out there. Ford and GM have the most vehicle recalls historically. Over the last few years all companies have been hit by major class action suits. VW included. There are some pretty angry car owners in North America right now.

http://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2014/volkswagen-settles-lawsuit-leaking-sunroofs.shtml

http://www.pswlaw.com/Notable-Cases/Audi-and-Volkswagen-Timing-Belt-Class-Action.aspx

Being a person not afraid to work on my own cars i have the luxury of choosing what I want to drive. i drive older cars simply for simplicity lol. So easy to fix much cheaper parts and really much better to look at imho