EcoDiesel Emissions History

FCA’s emissions cheating resulted in thousands of vehicles being ‘patched.’

Note: The opportunity to file an EcoDiesel emissions lawsuit has passed. If you own a 2014-16 EcoDiesel RAM 1500 or Jeep Grand Cherokee and are trying to find out what your legal options might be, please visit EcoDieselSettlement.com. The content below is intended to summarize the legal facts related to this case and provide owners of other vehicles with a background on how these lawsuits are handled. We will also note that Fiat Chrysler as a company has not admitted any fault in the matter.


With a name that suggests environmental consciousness, the Fiat Chrysler EcoDiesel 2014-16 lineup was billed as a top-of-the-line vehicle that provided quality fuel economy without unnecessary pollution. While FCA has argued against the idea these trucks were sold as environmentally focused, their marketing efforts indicated otherwise, and those who purchased these vehicles did so without expecting to be impacted by an emissions scandal.

In December of 2016, a class action law firm filed a lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler alleging the use of “defeat devices,” to knowingly conceal excess emissions of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) in their 2014-16 EcoDiesel vehicles. The class action case has since settled and represents a major legal milestone in the ongoing diesel vehicle cheating matters, as well as for owners who face the impact of a class action lawsuit. You can read more about the case and the claims of wrongdoing here.

After the class action lawsuit was filed, the government announced an investigation into Fiat Chrysler of America for violations of emissions standards. This investigation was critical because, unlike a private lawsuit, federal regulatory non-compliance could result in major penalties for the company. Over time, as the cases advances, evidence emerged of what Fiat Chrysler knew and when. While these legal efforts dragged on for years, with multiple attempts by Fiat Chrysler to have the class action case dismissed, a settlement was ultimately reached in both the government case and the class action.  

EcoDiesel Claims

In early 2019, the government, class counsel, and Fiat Chrysler reached a settlement to resolve the EcoDiesel emissions matter. The government’s investigation and lawsuit resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in fines. Penalties against FCA exceeded $700-800 million, with costs associated with recalls and class member payouts in an amount well beyond the initial fines.

The recalls and payouts centered around the lawsuit settlement’s requirement for Fiat Chrysler to develop an emissions software update to repair the NOx harm caused by the original ‘setup’ used during manufacturing. While the emissions update was considered optional, it was sometimes done, without consent, during everyday oil changes or tune-ups. In addition, many received the software update on their vehicle despite clearly indicating to the dealership that they did not wish to have it done. Importantly, while an update may be “optional,” it also cannot be reversed. As a result, any owner of a vehicle subject to an emissions scandal or recall could find they were impacted because of a simple routine visit to the dealership.

Months after the EcoDiesel class action settlement and governmental investigation concluded, a senior manager of FCA was charged with lying in connection with the emissions matter and the coding resulting in violations. In the charges facing that employee, it was discovered that multiple other employees of FCA may have assisted with this emissions conspiracy central to the overall EcoDiesel cheating matter.

EcoDiesel AEM Update Problems

EcoDiesel owners have faced significant issues after having had an emissions software update installed. EcoDiesel vehicle owners have posted thousands of complaints online to describe their problems, including:

With its co-counsel, Stern Law represented nearly two thousand clients in the EcoDiesel matter who chose to opt out of the class action and pursue individual claims to better protect their personal and financial interests. Although those who did not opt-out of the class action suit have limited options, those who did may have been entitled to pursue a full buyback and more in damages.

Public Reaction to Software Update Issues

The video title speaks to the extent of problems created by this issue, while Fiat Chrysler has denied there are widespread issues with their emission updates:


Facing Your Own Emissions Scandal?:

If you have questions concerning the EcoDiesel emissions scandal and how its impact may be relevant to your own issues as an owner of a vehicle caught up in its own legal battle, call us today at (844) 808-7529 or fill out our online contact form.


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