The Dieselgate scandal broke around seven years ago but many vehicle manufacturers have been thrust into the spotlight over the years because of violating the same emission standards that Volkswagen did in 2015.
One of the manufacturers that caught the attention of authorities is the England-based Vauxhall Motors. Considered one of the oldest established carmakers in the UK, the company came under the scrutiny of Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority or KBA in October 2018.
The KBA allegedly discovered defeat devices in Vauxhall vehicles. These devices are used to cheat emission regulatory testing. As a result, the KBA ordered the recall of the affected vehicles in Germany. The devices were installed in the majority of Vauxhall vehicles that were registered between the years 2009 and 2020. All the affected vehicles are diesel-powered.
In the UK, hundreds of thousands of Vauxhall vehicles may be equipped with the cheat device. Yet as of this writing, there have been no recalls implemented.
What does a defeat device do? Why is Vauxhall accused of cheating customers?
The defeat devices allegedly installed in Vauxhall’s diesel vehicles understand when a vehicle is under test conditions. They are programmed to manipulate emissions during testing so the levels stay within the World Health Organization (WHO)-mandated limits. Only vehicles that pass the emissions regulatory test can be sold. With defeat devices, it is easy to achieve this.
However, defeat device-manipulated emissions do not show the vehicle’s actual performance when driven on real roads. Outside the lab and with the device automatically making the vehicle revert to its default settings, the car or van releases massive volumes of nitrogen oxides, or NOx, a life-threatening pollutant. So, without a defeat device, the vehicle will not pass the required emissions test.
Like the other vehicle manufacturers that came before them in the diesel emissions scandal, Vauxhall is accused of deliberately misleading their customers by hiding the real emission levels of their vehicles. Drivers were made to believe they bought environmentally safe vehicles.
As such, drivers affected by the Vauxhall emissions scandal are urged to bring a claim against the manufacturer. They are owed thousands for their poor-performing, dangerous diesel vehicles.
What is NOx?
NOx or nitrogen oxide, the gas released by diesel vehicles, is highly reactive and impacts the environment and human health. Its main components include nitric oxide or NO and nitrogen dioxide or NO2, which are known to have adverse effects on a person’s overall health.
Nitrogen oxide reacts with other chemicals to produce air pollutants such as acid rain, ground-level ozone, and smog. Ground-level ozone affects vegetation. Plants, crops, and other vegetation become weak and more susceptible to damage. Frost can also easily destroy them.
Over the years, numerous studies have also shared evidence of the effects of NOx emissions on an individual’s mental health. Exposure to NOx can trigger depression, anxiety, and other mental health-related issues.
There have also been cases where exposure to NOx resulted in a decrease in a person’s cognitive abilities. Such cases often lead to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
More than anything else, what makes NOx emissions dangerous are their impacts on a person’s health. Effects range from mild to serious, depending on the frequency and level of exposure. If a person’s day-to-day activity takes them to areas with high levels of NOx emissions, they are exposed to higher volumes of NOx. Thus, the possibility of developing serious health impacts is higher.
Low-level exposure can trigger asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other respiratory diseases. Fluid in the lungs can also develop. Other health impacts include nausea, vomiting, and breathing difficulties.
If a person is exposed to NOx emissions daily, such as when walking to school or the office; their susceptibility to certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases increases. Other possible effects include chronic lung function reduction, spasms of the vocal cords, and premature death.
The first case of early death due to air pollution was recorded in the UK after south London resident Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died in 2013. She had been in and out of the hospital for months and after a severe asthma attack, her body finally gave up. She was only nine years old when she died. In December 2020, the coroner completed an inquest into her death and announced air pollution as the official cause.
Ella and her mother lived near South Circular Road, one of London’s most polluted areas. Her death has sparked interest, concern, and legal action from various groups, organizations, and law firms, as well as from emissions authorities.
If you have a Vauxhall diesel vehicle …
If you suspect your Vauxhall is equipped with a defeat device, you should bring an emissions claim against the carmaker. They should be held responsible for their deceitful action, as well as for putting you and the people around you in danger (due to NOx emissions).
There are several requirements that you need to consider, though; you should first verify your eligibility in making a claim. The emissions experts at ClaimExperts.co.uk know how to determine claims eligibility. Visit their website to get more details.
