Dieselgate: What VW TDI Owners Should Know
If you’re the owner of a so-called “clean diesel” Volkswagen, the news that the automaker cheated its way into meeting emissions standards here and in Europe probably hit you with the force of a 2×4 to the back of the head. And if not, it should have.
Aside from VW’s CEO already resigning and a French Revolution’s worth of heads probably rolling, expect the company to reel like a punch-drunk fighter from what will surely be a staggering combination of fines, lawsuits, lost sales and eroding customer loyalty on a global scale. VW stock plummeted by 20% after word leaked of the brewing scandal, the results of which might be felt for more than a decade – if in fact the automaker survives under the current ownership to tell the tale.
Yeah, that all sucks for Volkswagen AG and its shareholders, but what does it all mean to the poor suckers who were duped by empty promises of stellar fuel economy, bountiful acceleration and clean-as-a-whistle emissions? To be exact, we’re talking about 482,000 owners of VW TDI models in the U.S., including Jettas, Beetles, Golfs and Audi A3s from the 2009-15 model years and VW Passats from 2014-15, each of which were sold at price premiums running several thousand dollars over comparable gasoline-powered models. In all 11 million vehicles are affected globally. Other diesel cars and SUVs from within the VW/Audi portfolios and from other automakers sold in the U.S., which as far as we know can pass emissions tests without a cheat sheet, are unaffected.
For starters, expect the resale values of the dishonest diesels to take a dive, even if the automaker somehow fixes the problem in a timely manner. And VW could well have tainted the well for all diesel-powered models insofar as sales and trade-in values are concerned. As it currently stands, the value of all affected VW TDIs registered in California are effectively zero, as they’re now considered to be “non-compliant” in the eyes of the state’s strict emissions law, and as such cannot be re-sold. For those keeping score, around 14 percent of all the VW vehicles involved in the cheating scandal are registered in the Golden State.
See also: ‘The Year that Drove Volkswagen Over The Ethical Cliff‘
There’s a possibility VW could buy back all the affected vehicles at close to their current market value, but a fix is more likely. The easy and cheap way would be to re-program the cars’ software to operate in the deceitful “test mode” VW’s engineers employed to pass emissions tests. This will surely adversely affect both the cars’ acceleration and fuel economy – the two reasons all those folks paid premium prices to obtain them in the first place – though exactly how much is not known. A third option would be for the company to retrofit the cars with the urea-based scrubbing technology used elsewhere in the clean-diesel world, but the cost and complexity involved would probably be prohibitive, especially on a global scale.
We’d bet on a combination of a software update and a cash payment to TDI owners to at least cover the cost of lost fuel economy and perhaps even the resulting dip in resale values. Even at that, a class action lawsuit will surely be filed at some point to exact further compensation, though such measures tend to pad the pockets of lawyers more than they do the consumers involved.
In the meantime, here’s some pertinent Q&As for VW Beetle, Golf, Jetta, Passat and Audi A3 TDI owners, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency:
What should I expect if I own an affected Volkswagen diesel vehicle?
As the owner of an affected Volkswagen diesel vehicle, it is likely that you will receive a recall notice in the future. This notice will come from Volkswagen. It will provide you with information about the recall and with instructions about how to get your car repaired at no cost to you.
Can I continue to drive my vehicle?
Yes. These cars are safe and legal to drive. Owners do not need to take any action at this time.
Will EPA take or confiscate my vehicle?
Absolutely not. EPA will not confiscate your vehicle or require you to stop driving. You will not be charged for any repairs made under any recall.
Can EPA require Volkswagen to recall these vehicles?
Yes. EPA has the authority under section 207 of the Clean Air Act to require a manufacturer to issue a recall when EPA determines that a substantial number of vehicles do not conform to EPA regulations.
Is EPA officially requiring Volkswagen to issue a recall now?
No. EPA expects to compel VW to issue a recall in the future to reduce the emissions impacts of these vehicles. Owners will be notified of that recall once Volkswagen and Audi have developed a remedial plan and EPA has approved the plan. Manufacturers are 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. Depending on the complexity of the repair and the lead-time needed to obtain the necessary components, it could take up to one year to identify corrective actions, develop a recall plan, and issue recall notices.
Will I be required to have my vehicle repaired once it is recalled?
That depends. Some states require proof that emissions recalls have been performed prior to issuing the vehicle registration. Even in states that do not have this requirement, it is important to have emissions recalls performed because without the repairs, your vehicle may be emitting harmful pollutants in excess of the federal emission standards. You are not responsible for repair costs related to an emissions recall.
I live in an area that requires periodic emissions tests. What happens if my car fails?
It is unlikely that the presence of this device will cause your vehicle to fail. In fact, the defeat device was specifically designed to ensure that vehicles would pass inspection. The defeat device has been installed in the affected VW diesels since 2009. To date, EPA has no indication of any pattern failures with these vehicles during inspection and maintenance emission tests.
How much will this cost to fix?
Volkswagen will be required to implement corrective action at no cost to the owner.
Can I turn off the defeat device?
No. The device is embedded in the software code that runs the engine control computer.
What pollutants are being emitted?
Vehicles emit an array of pollutants. EPA standards control the allowable emission levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, and certain toxic chemicals. The VW defeat device affects the way the NOx control system operates, resulting in higher NOx emission levels from these vehicles than from vehicles with properly operating emission controls.
How much more pollution is being emitted than should be?
NOx emission levels are 10 – 40 times higher than emission standards.
Is this contributing to bad air quality in my city/area?
All vehicles emit some pollution that, along with emissions from other sources, affects local air quality. Vehicles with high emission levels have a disproportionate impact. EPA emission standards are designed to protect local air quality and maintain clean and healthy air. The VW diesels with the defeat device do not comply with EPA emission standards.
Where can I get more information?
For more information please send an email to complianceinfo@epa.gov or visit the California Air Resources Board website.
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