862,520 Fiat-Chrysler vehicles have emissions problems, will be recalled

Problems with catalytic converters of 862,520 Fiat-Chrysler vehicles result in a semi-voluntary recall, say officials at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) .

The vehicles in question include:

• Model Year 2011-2016 (MY) Dodge Journey
• 2011-2014 MY Chrysler 200 / Dodge Avenger
• 2011-2012 MY Dodge Caliber
• 2011-2016 My Patriot Jeep Compass

The recall will take place in stages, with older car owners being first notified that they can bring their car for repair. The final phase is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2019. Unlike previous Fiat-Chrysler emissions reminders, these patches require spares.

The recall is voluntary in most states, but in California, compliance with this recall is mandatory. This means that owners of Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles above will not be able to register their cars in the Golden State without having returned them for necessary repairs.

In a press release, CARB noted that the Fiat-Chrysler vehicles in question emitted an excess of nitrogen oxides, which "contribute the most to the ambient ozone and pollution by the fine particles (PM 2.5) ". These two factors are "associated with premature death, emergency room visits for asthma, increased hospitalization due to exacerbation of chronic heart and lung disease and other serious health effects."

In justifying its reasoning for making the recall mandatory, the jury added that "California is home to both the highest ozone levels (south coast) and levels of airborne material ( San Joaquin Valley) in the United States ".

The EPA has begun to do more tests of used vehicles since the Volkswagen diesel group scandal that broke out in 2015. Although VW, Audi and Porsche cars easily passed the manufacturers' lab tests. automotive, independent testing has shown far beyond the legal limits of the United States under actual driving conditions.

In its press release issued today, the EPA said that it tested every year about 150 vehicles from one to four years old. In most cases, the agency always relies on laboratory tests provided by the manufacturer.

The Fiat-Chrysler recall follows another emissions issue that the company had with more than 100,000 diesel-powered trucks and SUVs. These vehicles must receive a software update to bring them into compliance. In January, Fiat-Chrysler agreed to pay more than $ 300 million in illegal pollution regulations for non-compliant trucks and SUVs, as well as $ 185 million in "mitigation costs" related to emissions of nitrogen oxides.