Fiat Chrysler Automobiles faces £5bn emissions scandal lawsuit

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is facing a potential £5bn lawsuit in the UK for the alleged use of emissions defeat devices in some of its diesel vehicles.

Law firm PGMBM says it has issued a case in the High Court of Justice against the manufacturer, claiming the ‘scandal’ could affect up to half a million of vehicles in England and Wales, manufactured since 2008.

Owners of affected models could be due £10,000 in compensation, if the claim is successful.

The car maker’s offices, including those of truck maker CNH, in Germany, Switzerland and Italy were raided in July, following claims that some of the company’s engines produced illegal levels of emissions.

Potentially illegal software was allegedly detected in the engine management systems used in Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Fiat and Suzuki cars, plus Iveco and Fiat commercial vehicles.

Affected engines, highlighted in the investigation include Euro 5 and 6 variants of the 1.3-litre, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine.

A full list of potentially affected models can be viewed below.

In 2019, FCA agreed to a settlement worth $800 million to resolve claims from the US Justice Department and the state of California relating to the use of illegal software that produced false results on diesel-emissions tests.

The new claim, filed by lawyers PGMBM on behalf of affected drivers – the first in the UK – alleges that FCA committed fraud by manufacturing vehicles whose true diesel emissions far exceeded the limits imposed by EU and UK laws.

PGMBM managing partner Tom Goodhead said: “Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have misled drivers about the true diesel emissions that many of their vehicles produce. This is yet another instance of a huge automotive firm conning consumers – with a significant impact on the environment and our collective wellbeing.

“FCA must be held to account for these practices, and this case will give consumers the opportunity to pursue some justice and be compensated for being misled by a company that they may have trusted.

“Legally, consumers could be entitled to anything up to the full cost of the affected vehicles. But based on similar legal actions around the world, we believe that £10,000 per claimant should be expected.”

An FCA spokesperson said: "FCA believes this claim to be totally without merit and we will vigorously defend ourselves against it."

PGMBM has filed a similar claim against Mercedes-Benz.

Potentially affected vehicles with FCA's diesel engine: