Fiat Chrysler Accused of VW-Style Emissions Cheating

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and German engineering firm Bosch were hit Thursday with a new class action alleging that thousands of Dodge and Jeep diesel vehicles advertised as eco-friendly use the same kind of "defeat devices" that Volkswagen A.G. used to cheat U.S. emissions tests.

The suit, filed in San Francisco federal court by plaintiffs law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, alleges that Fiat Chrysler's "Ecodiesel" Dodge RAM 1500 produces up to 10 times as much nitrogen oxides as the standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Steve Berman, managing partner at Hagens Berman, said in a statement that Bosch and Fiat Chrysler took advantage of consumers' desire to make environmentally conscious choices "as a means to charge premium prices—more than $4,700 more."

Reached via email, Berman said he would file a notice in the ongoing Volkswagen litigation in federal court here informing the judge of the new case, since Bosch is a defendant in that case as well "and the issues of emissions standards are similar in both." 

Why It Seems Like Open Season on Car Companies: QuickTake Q&A

Sometimes it can seem like the entire automotive industry is under investigation. Volkswagen is still making amends for the tricks it played to enable its diesel-powered vehicles to pass emissions tests. Audi -- a VW unit -- is now accused of similarly rigging gasoline-fueled cars. Fiat-Chrysler is being sued, and Mercedes parent Daimler faces an investigation and lawsuits over similar allegations. Mitsubishi admitted doctoring fuel-economy claims. Takata must replace 70 million faulty airbags linked to 17 deaths worldwide. The General Motors ignition-switch debacle is blamed for the loss of at least 120 lives and led to $2.1 billion in fines and legal settlements with more potentially coming.

Why are so many companies in trouble? read more »

Ford recalls 680,000 vehicles including Fusion, MKZ

Ford Motor Co said on Friday it will recall about 680,000 of its Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans to fix a seat belt issue.

About 602,000 of the vehicles recalled are in the U.S. market and about 650,000 of them are in North America as a whole.

A small amount of Ford Mondeo sedans are also being recalled, but none of them are in North America.

Ford said it is aware of two accidents and two injuries associated with the issue. read more »

New Tesla Crashes Shows Need to Recall Tesla’s Autopilot Feature, Consumer Watchdog Says

A growing list of Tesla crashes demonstrates the urgent need to regulate the vehicles’ “Autopilot” feature, Consumer Watchdog said today, reiterating its call to the California DMV to act and for the company to disable the feature.

Earlier this week a Tesla smashed into a construction barrier truck on the German autobahn while traveling at a high rate of speed and likely with Autopilot engaged. Although the car smashed under the truck, the driver was seriously injured, but not killed.

But in early November a Tesla crashed into a tree in Indianapolis and burst into flames killing its two occupants. Investigators are probing whether Autopilot was a factor, but the company says the car was too badly damaged to transmit data to its servers and that it could not be determined if Autopilot was engaged.

The German Department of Transportation has banned use of the term “Autopilot” in Germany, but Tesla is reported to be resisting.

Pirelli Tire is recalling 1,190 P Zero All Season tires

size 275/40R19 101W, manufactured February 29, 2016, to October 29, 2016, as an original equipment fitment exclusively for certain Maserati cars.

Due to an incorrect carcass component, the tires may develop cracks in their lower sidewall, possibly resulting in a loss of air.

A loss of air may result in tire failure or a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. read more »