A new report by the Associated Press (AP) states that Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) will have to pay approximately $650 million fine for diesel emissions cheating allegations – determined by the U.S. Justice Department and EPA.
FCA (Ram and Jeep) never admitted wrong-doing in this matter. The allegations state that the EcoDiesel 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel engine calibration was changed under heavy real-world loads and allowed emissions that far exceeded legal limits.
According to the report by AP, FCA will be required to pay “around $311 million in fines to the federal government and California regulators.” Ram and Jeep will also compensate owners to the tune of $280 million (or $2,800 per owner). There is an additional sum of close to $72 million in order to settle claims made by other states.
Here is everything else we know about the FCA diesel emissions scandal.
- Jan, 2017: First news of the Ram/Jeep emissions scandal breaks. The allegation involves 104,000 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel vehicles produced between 2014-2016. This includes a stop-sale on EcoDiesel vehicles.
- Jan, 2017: TFLtruck tests a 2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel at a Colorado diesel emissions station that only measures NOx, and the truck easily passes with no visible smoke.
- May, 2017: U.S. Justice department and EPA hit FCA with a $4.3 billion lawsuit.
- Jul, 2017: FCA is allowed to sell 2017 EcoDiesel trucks after a calibration adjustment.
- Jul, 2017: Ram 1500 EcoDiesel trucks get slightly lower EPA ratings after engine recalibration. 2018 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 2WD is rated at 20/27/23 MPG. This is 27 MPG on the highway, while the original rating was 28 MPG on the highway.
- Feb, 2018: There were several government fine predictions that ranged between $460 million and $1 billion. Some other reports estimates the total fine at $4.6 billion.
FCA has said that it is planning to sell the next generation of the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 engine in the new Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler JL, and Jeep Gladiator truck in 2020.
We tested a 2015 and a 2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel trucks that were equipped with the original engine / powertrain calibration. This was before the trucks were recalled and reprogrammed due to the emissions scandal.
Note: it makes the results we originally published ineligible for competition. We had since removed the 2015 and 2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel trucks from our Ike Gauntlet and highway towing loop leader boards.
