Attorney General Kris Mayes has initiated a legal confrontation with Cummins, Inc. and FCA US, LLC, the company known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, over allegations of deceptive advertising of their diesel trucks as "super clean" despite the installation of illegal defeat devices, according to a press release from the Arizona Attorney General's Office. The suit accuses both companies of misleading consumers, particularly the over 23,600 Arizonans who purchased these vehicles, into believing they were eco-friendly choices when, in fact, they were anything but.
The legal action stems from claims that Cummins and FCA touted the diesel trucks’ efficiency and reduced environmental impact, leading consumers to cough up a premium for these vehicles, consumers trusted they were contributing less harm to the environment while gaining power and efficiency and that’s where the truth got murky. "Deceptive practices that harm our environment and deceive consumers will not be tolerated," Mayes said, signaling a firm stance on corporate accountability and consumer rights. The deception lies in the presence of defeat devices that allowed the diesel trucks to bypass stringent EPA emissions tests, falsely showing compliance during testing but not in regular road use.
These allegations involve model years 2013 through 2019 Dodge RAM 2500 and 3500 trucks, which apparently emitted increased levels of nitrogen oxides due to the defeat devices, contributing significantly to air pollution problems. NOx, a notorious contributor to smog, has been directly associated with various respiratory and cardiovascular conditions which threaten public health. The lawsuit contends that Cummins was aware of the illegal devices within its engines but failed to reveal this crucial information when seeking Certificates of Compliance necessary for the sale of these vehicles in America, this includes Arizona.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office is pursuing injunctive relief, restitution, disgorgement of profits, civil penalties and coverage for fees and costs, aiming to address the alleged deception and ensure compliance with consumer protection laws, the office is adamant that companies like Cummins and FCA should not get away with such fraudulent acts especially when they implicate both consumer trust and the well-being of our planet's environment. Affected individuals are encouraged to file a complaint through available channels provided by the Attorney General’s website or its various offices throughout the state.
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