If you own a Vauxhall diesel vehicle that was first registered between the years 2009 and 2019, you may be eligible to claim emission compensation equivalent to a maximum of £10,000. This came to light after authorities allegedly discovered cheat devices in thousands of Vauxhall vehicles. Over a million drivers are reportedly qualified to receive compensation.
Defeat devices are used to artificially bring down emissions so vehicles can breeze through regulatory tests, which are required for selling and driving on real roads. The devices are designed to sense when a vehicle is in test conditions so it could reduce emissions levels to within the limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
As the vehicle is in test conditions, it does not show real emissions and appears fuel-efficient and environmentally safe. Once the vehicle is taken outside test conditions, however, its emission levels revert to factory defaults and the vehicle goes back to emitting excessive amounts of nitrogen oxide or NOx, a group of gases that contain nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide and has adverse impacts on the environment and human health.
Authorities believe that Vauxhall officials knew about the defeat devices and they deliberately lied to their customers about the real emissions levels of the vehicles. This is why law firms in the UK are encouraging affected car owners to file diesel claims.
Vauxhall is only one of the many carmakers involved in the Dieselgate scandal that started with the Volkswagen Group in September 2015. US authorities sent the German manufacturer a notice of violation for the defeat devices they found installed in VW and Audi diesel vehicles sold in the American automotive market. After VW, other carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Renault were implicated in the scandal. The Vauxhall emissions scam is one of the newest on the list.
How the Vauxhall diesel emission scandal started
Vauxhall’s involvement in the diesel emissions scandal started after its sister brand Opel came under the scrutiny of the KBA – the German Federal Motor Transport Authority. KBA alleged that Opel vehicles – specifically the Zafira 1.9, Insignia 2.0-litre CDTi, and the Cascada 2.0 CDTi models manufactured between the years 2012 and 2016 – contained illegal defeat devices. The KBA ordered the carmaker to recall all the affected Opel diesel vehicles in January 2020.
Authorities also found defeat devices in around 500,000 Vauxhall diesel vehicles driven on UK roads. A recall was ordered despite the carmaker’s vehement denial of the accusations. According to reports, approximately 600,000 defeat device-equipped Vauxhall vehicles have been sold to UK car owners for a period of 10 years.
Even if the Vauxhall diesel emissions scandal is still quite new, authorities have already released a list of the models that are affected by the defeat devices. These are:
- Zafira Tourer
- Zafira
- Movano
- Mokka
- Insignia
- Corsa
- Cascada
- Astra
Any of these models – whether they were an outright purchase, leased, financed, used, or new – were mis-sold by Vauxhall as high-performing, emissions-compliant vehicles despite allegedly producing NOx emissions in volumes that were 40 times over the legal limits. This means millions of metric tons of the atmosphere are covered by dangerous pollutants year after year.
Why is NOx dangerous?
Nitrogen oxide quickly turns into NO2 once it is released into the atmosphere. NO2 produces smog, which can cause or aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions. It can also form acid rain, which is responsible for damaging ecosystems and harming wildlife. Ground-level ozone, another pollutant formed by NOx, also weakens and destroys vegetation.
Exposure to NOx emissions also causes the following health impacts:
- Depression, anxiety, and other mental health-related issues
- Dementia due to diminished cognitive abilities
- Difficulty in breathing
- Lung problems (i.e., fluid can fill the lungs)
- Asphyxiation
- Vocal cords spasm
- Chronic reduction of lung functions
- Certain cancers
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Premature death
Air pollution, including NOx emissions, has become the primary cause of thousands upon thousands of premature deaths every year across the world.
These impacts and Vauxhall’s deceitful act are only two of the reasons why affected car owners are encouraged to claim emission compensation. The other reasons are:
- The defeat device can cause a decrease in the vehicle’s total market value
- Fuel bills and maintenance costs can increase
- The vehicle’s overall performance can be significantly affected
If you believe your Vauxhall is equipped with a defeat device, you should consider filing a Vauxhall emissions claim.
Should I start my diesel claim now?
The answer is YES. Some diesel claims can take months to finish while others are simpler and quicker. To ensure that your case moves smoothly, you should start talking to an emissions expert right away. However, as not all Vauxhall diesel vehicles are affected by the defeat device, it is important to verify if you are qualified to bring a diesel claim.
The process is easy. All you have to do is visit ClaimExperts.co.uk and get all the necessary information available so you can start the claim right away.
