People’s perception of diesel vehicles changed after the Dieselgate scandal happened in September 2015. Once regarded as the safest, cleanest alternative for carmakers and car owners, diesel became the most controversial option almost overnight.
While the sales of diesel vehicles were not immediately affected, the numbers have been decreasing in the last couple of years. Authorities are now more vigilant, and laws have become stricter. Nevertheless, the repercussions of the diesel emissions scandal can still be felt as more and more carmakers are added to the list of emissions law violators. Allegedly, one of these manufacturers is the French brand Renault.
Two years ago, a court in France charged Renault with deception for the alleged use of defeat devices in their diesel vehicles. The devices are used to manipulate emissions tests and therefore deceive authorities and customers.
The investigation started in 2017 after the Volkswagen Group faced a United States court and confessed their role in the Dieselgate scandal. As a result of the judicial investigation, Renault was ordered to pay bail worth $24 million (approximately £19.1 million) in addition to a bank guarantee of $72 million (approximately £57.28 million) for compensations and fines.
Renault’s head of engineering Gilles Le Borgne denied the allegations and said that the company did not deceive anyone because they didn’t install defeat devices in their vehicles. He further guaranteed that none of their products is equipped with malicious software because they always follow emissions regulations.
Vehicles that are involved in the Renault emissions scandal include those that were manufactured from 2009-2011 and 2013-2017.
The charges against them make Renault one of the latest carmakers to be linked to the Dieselgate scandal.
How did the Dieselgate scandal come about?
The Dieselgate scandal started after US authorities accused the Volkswagen Group of adding defeat devices to their VW and Audi diesel vehicles. They alleged that the carmaker used the devices to control emissions during regulatory tests. The devices can sense when a vehicle is brought in for testing and once this happens, they immediately reduce emissions to match legal limits.
While authorities and the public see the vehicle as emissions-compliant, this is only temporary because as soon as testing is over and it is driven on normal roads, it goes back to releasing excessively high levels of nitrogen oxide or NOx emissions.
NOx is a highly reactive gas that’s dangerous to both humans and the environment. It has nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO) and can produce ground-level ozone, a pollutant known to destroy vegetation.
Drivers affected by the diesel emissions scandal are exposed to NOx emissions, which can lead to various health conditions. This is one of the reasons why US authorities immediately ordered VW to recall the hundreds of thousands of affected vehicles. Volkswagen was also asked to pay fines and fees.
Not long after, other carmakers came into the picture and the Dieselgate scandal crossed shores. Aside from Renault, defeat devices were also reportedly found in Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, BMW, and Vauxhall diesel vehicles. The scandal has also reached Australia, where authorities and car owners recently discovered that popular brand Toyota used equipped their diesel vehicles with defeat devices.
How do NOx emissions impact car owners?
If you are exposed to NOx emissions, you can experience a variety of health conditions, both mild and serious.
NOx emissions affect your mental health, so expect more frequent bouts of depression and anxiety. In some cases, especially if you are constantly exposed to nitrogen oxides, your cognitive health can weaken. When this happens, you will become more vulnerable to dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease.
Minor health impacts you may experience include asthma, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema, nausea and vomiting, and corroded teeth.
The more serious, and often life-changing, impacts of exposure to NOx emissions include:
- COPD
- Cancer
- Pulmonary oedema
- Asphyxiation
- Laryngospasm
- Cardiovascular disease
- Premature death
These impacts are the most important reasons for you and all affected drivers to start a diesel claim against your carmaker. Other reasons include:
- Defeat devices affect your vehicle’s performance
- Your carmaker lied and mis-sold the vehicle to you, giving you no choice but to pay a premium price for it
- Your carmaker prioritised profit over your safety
The emission claims process can be lengthy, so you should consider working with an emissions expert.
Filing my diesel claim
Before sitting down with an emissions expert, you should visit Emissions.co.uk first so you can verify if you are eligible to file a diesel claim. They’ll provide you with all the relevant information you need so you can start your case.
Talking to an emissions expert will also help you determine if you should join a class-action lawsuit or file the emission claim individually.
A diesel claim will not cost you anything. If you win the case, you will be rightfully compensated.
