A lawsuit filed against General Motors over allegations the automaker installed an emissions defeat device in the Chevy Cruze Diesel looks set to be dismissed by a federal judge.
The plaintiffs in this suit, which was filed in 2016, claim the 2014 and 2015 model year Chevy Cruze Diesel features illegal software capable of bypassing emissions tests performed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The plaintiffs claim they were misled to believe the vehicles were more efficient than they actually were and were injured as they paid a premium for a “clean diesel” vehicle and may pay more out-of-pocket for repairs going forward than a comparable gasoline vehicle. The suit echoes of the VW “dieselgate” case that came to light in 2014.
As Car Complaints reports, GM allowed this lawsuit to advance into a pre-trial “discovery” phase that is intended to collect information and other intel pertinent to the case. During the multi-year discovery phase, the judge presiding over the suit, Judge Thomas L. Ludington, found no evidence GM used defeat software in the 2014 and 2015 Chevy Cruze Diesel.
Part of the discovery process saw GM submit a FOIA request to the EPA and CARB requesting documents pertaining to investigations into the 2014 and 2015 Cruze Diesel, but this request brought forth no relevant material. The only evidence viewed by the judge that suggested there may have been an issue with the vehicle’s emissions came from a test of one single Chevy Cruze Diesel that was purchased by the plaintiff’s attorneys.
Car Complaints says plaintiffs who sued GM now have until October 1st, 2021, to show evidence as to why the judge should not dismiss this lawsuit. This suit also involves Robert Bosch GmbH, which supplies the emissions software used in the 2014-2015 Chevy Cruze diesel.
Subscribe to GM Authority as we bring you the latest Chevrolet Cruze news, Chevrolet news and ongoing GM news coverage.
Comments
If there should be any lawsuits pertaining to the Chevy Cruze Diesel, it should be AGAINST VW!!! In 2014 I purchased a new one to use for driving Uber since I couldn’t use the 2015 Spark EV that was my main car. I drove that Cruze a lot and was quite impressed with it, averaging nearly 32.7 MPG over 33,000 hard miles. I had many compliments on that car too. As many already know, this was around the time the VW diesel-gate came about and every diesel powered vehicle that wasn’t a truck took a huge hit in value. In late 2015 I went to trade the Cruze in before I put too many miles on it. Every dealership I dealt with told me that the value on my car dropped an extra $2,000 because of the VW nightmare.
So those of us who purchased non-VW brand diesel cars took a big hit, while VW paid the people driving the VW diesels quite well. I’ll never forget how my nephew purchase a USED VW diesel and got a great price on it. He drove it for a year and got a big check from VW, kept the car and then sold it for as much as he paid for it. All while my Chevy diesel dropped because of that same thing. VW sucks.
That’s bad. It’s a good lesson, though. Any non-dominant technology is susceptible to bad press, image issues due to scandals, and branding. That might shape EV and Hydrogen sales in the future.
You were honest, GM was honest. No good deeds go unpunished.
Yeah, VWs hold their value. They suck.
I take it easy because I rarely bought new cars. Many cars with diesel, gasoline, hydrogen or now the BEV will at some point be sued by the media and business lawyers and pseudo-ecological associations. In the USA you can certainly make a lot of quick money with it. A jackpot in Las Vegas is very rare.
I have been driving diesel since 1989 and have now bought old vehicles with many kilometers again.
A BMW E39 / 2 520d with SG (MY2001) with more than 220,000 miles and a Mercedes W210 220d (4V prechamber) with SG (MY1998) with an incredible 450,000 miles. Both are super good and the diesel emissions are 50% below the EU limit values at Smok Kontroll (AU). Both vehicles were never extensively repaired, only serviced! I drive Ultimate Diesel from ARAL and Performans Diesel from Shell and that’s very important because dirt doesn’t like diesel engines either! Some gas stations around the world are still selling truck diesel with water and a high sulfur content that is unsuitable for cars. Therefore never fill up with truck diesel!
Conclusion: You can always find good diesel, no matter where, but more important is a good, clean, sulfur-free diesel fuel! Cars will always be sued because the auto industry is often discriminated against. See the IAA in Munich 2021 in Germany!
TheMan: You are right on! With care and understanding of diesels they are 10X’s better and safer than gasoline engines. Clessie Cummins RIP.
I’ve averaged 34 mpg / 550 miles per tank, over 94,000 miles in my 2014 Cruze diesel. Always on Shell V-Power Diesel. Now eight years old, it’s been a great car.
I will share the Shell diesel fuel recommendation to my brother in law since he has a diesel Cruze from one of those years.
He loves it. He drives 38 miles oneway to work.
I brought a 2012 cruze i went from the parking lot to the service department my cruze was in the shop every week when i turned the corner the car would completely shut off . .i have replaced everything under the hood.. gm replaced my water pump and now my air does not work..i have had so many problems with this car.. replaced every censor they should be ashamed of themseves they know this car is junk..i brought this car in 2013 i just hold on to it because its paid for.. the fake leather seats held up longer than the engine
This one sentence sums up the entire issue, “The only evidence viewed by the judge that suggested there may have been an issue with the vehicle’s emissions came from a test of one single Chevy Cruze Diesel that was purchased by the plaintiff’s attorneys.” This is the rule of ducks, Looks, quacks, and walks like a duck it is. How in gods green earth out of the tens of thousands diesel cruise did the lawyers just happen upon the only one to have the issue? Smells like tampering by one of those suing hoping for an out of court $$$$ in their pocket. Just thinking out loud here. I do agree that the entire VW dieselgate has hurt the entire diesel car line regardless of the manufacture.
GM never released exact production figures for the 2014-15 Cruze diesel. But best estimates point to 16-17,000 total produced for Canada and the USA.
My 2017 Cruze LT does 56.4 miles to the gallon on highway.
Plaintiffs attorneys on this case are unethical maggots.