Volkswagen Emissions Class Action Lawsuit

Simmons Hanly Conroy is investigating the legal rights of owners of recalled diesel model Volkswagen vehicles and dealerships with competing vehicles. The firm has filed two class action lawsuits against Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) on behalf of clients nationwide. These class actions allege that Volkswagen intentionally breached U.S. laws and Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) rules and regulations by selling vehicles manufactured by its affiliates Volkswagen AG and Audi AG that purposefully evaded federal and state laws.

Last updated: December 18, 2020

Legal Rights for Individuals, Competing Dealerships & Businesses

The action follows Volkswagen’s admission that it installed “defeat device” software in 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide, which allowed the falsification of emissions results. Vehicles with this software meet emissions standards in the laboratory or testing station, but during normal operation have emissions of up to 40 times the legal amount.

According to the EPA’s notice of violation (NOV) issued on Sept. 18, the “defeat device” detects when the vehicle is undergoing official emissions testing and turns full emissions control on only during the test. If you have purchased, or are a dealership in competition with these vehicles, you may be entitled to compensation.

Legal Rights of Those Who Own Volkswagen Diesel Vehicles

Owners of the affected vehicles may be entitled to compensation due to the false advertising provided by Volkswagen. These advertising efforts, were based on the idea of “Clean Diesel.” Had consumers known that these vehicles emit 40 times the legal amount, they may have been able to avoid purchasing them, or would have paid less.

As an owner of an affected Volkswagen diesel vehicle, it is likely that you will receive a recall notice. While repairs will not cost you anything, they may result in a decrease in value of your vehicle due to the expected decrease in their performance and efficiency.

According to the EPA, affected diesel models include:

Jetta, 2009-2015
Jetta Sportwagen, 2009-2014
Beetle, 2012-2015
Beetle Convertible, 2012-2015
Audi A3, 2010-2015
Golf, 2010-2015
Golf Sportwagen, 2015
Passat, 2012-2015

Legal Rights of Competing Dealerships

Due to the false advertising supplied by Volkswagen, competing dealerships may have lost sales. Volkswagen’s false advertising may have swayed consumers to purchase diesel vehicles under the guise of “Clean Diesel.” Competing dealerships with diesel models which meet the EPA’s emissions standards, such as Chevrolet, Mercedes and BMW may be entitled to compensation.

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Written by:Simmons Hanly Conroy

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The Simmons Hanly Conroy Editorial Team consists of journalists, writers and editors who strive to deliver accurate and useful information to families needing legal help. Our team works alongside the firm's attorneys and partners, as well as with medical professionals and other specialists, to keep all information relevant and helpful.