Stellantis’ FCA U.S. division has agreed to pay $4.2 million to settle a California Air Resources Board (CARB) investigation into excessive emissions violations, marking another chapter in the automaker’s ongoing environmental compliance challenges.
The settlement covers 2014-2016 Ram ProMaster 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles with 3.0L diesel engines. According to CARB, these vehicles were equipped with an unapproved device that bypassed emissions controls, releasing approximately 55 tons of excess nitrogen oxides (NOx) into California’s air.
NOx is a major contributor to smog and poses health risks to communities.
However, this is not the first time FCA has faced scrutiny. In 2022, Stellantis paid California a $5.6 million settlement for similar allegations involving gas-powered vehicles.
Settlement Details
As part of the agreement:
- Stellantis will recall and modify the affected vehicles to ensure their emissions systems meet California’s stringent air quality standards.
- The $4.2 million settlement is divided as follows:
- $2 million in civil penalties, which will support California’s Air Pollution Control Fund.
- $2.1 million will fund a program encouraging ocean-going cargo vessels to reduce speeds during peak whale migration and ozone seasons, delivering both wildlife protection and air quality benefits.
Additionally. this settlement is just one of several legal and regulatory actions Stellantis has faced over emissions compliance:
- In June 2022: FCA pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy in a federal diesel emissions fraud investigation led by the U.S. Justice Department. The company agreed to pay $300 million in penalties as part of the plea deal.
- In 2019: California reached a $500 million settlement with FCA over the use of “defeat device software” to manipulate emissions tests on over 100,000 diesel vehicles nationwide, receiving $78 million of the total.
This case underlines the importance of compliance with emissions regulations as automakers face increasing scrutiny from state and federal authorities. With California leading the charge on emissions enforcement, other manufacturers may need to evaluate their compliance practices to avoid similar penalties.
