(WWJ) – Owners of more than 600,000 Dodge RAM pickup trucks with diesel engines will be receiving recall notices, as engine maker Cummins reached a $2 billion settlement with the federal government in an “emissions cheating” scandal.
Cummins allegedly used illegal “defeat devices” that allowed it to skirt diesel emissions tests.
In December Cummins agreed to a $1.675 billion civil penalty to settle claims — the largest ever settlement under the Clean Air Act — and $325 million for pollution remedies.
On Wednesday the Department of Justice announced the company must also complete a nationwide vehicle recall to repair and replace the engine control software in more than 600,000 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 pickup trucks equipped with the company’s diesel engines.
The recall covers 2013-2019 models of the truck and dealers will reprogram the software to fix the issue, according to WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert.
The DOJ says Cummins must repair at least 85% of the trucks equipped with the defeat devices within three years.
Cummins will also extend the warranty period for certain parts in the repaired vehicles, fund and perform projects to mitigate excess ozone-creating nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from the vehicles and employ new internal procedures designed to prevent future emissions cheating.
The DOJ says NOx pollution “contributes to the formation of harmful smog and fine particulate matter in air.” Children, older adults, people who are active outdoors and people with heart or lung diseases are particularly at risk for health effects related to smog or particulate matter exposure.
“The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing environmental laws that protect the American people from harmful pollutants,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland, per a press release. “The types of devices we allege that Cummins installed in its engines to cheat federal environmental laws have a significant and harmful impact on people’s health and safety. This historic agreement makes clear that the Justice Department will be aggressive in its efforts to hold accountable those who seek to profit at the expense of people’s health and safety.”
More information on the settlement can be found on the DOJ website.
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