Ford's Emissions Scandal: One Million Vehicles Sold with Defective Controls
A shocking revelation has emerged in a UK court, revealing that around one million Ford diesel cars sold in the country between 2016 and 2018 were equipped with emissions controls that were severely compromised due to a sulphur content in fuel. This defect would render the systems less effective when exposed to pollution from sulphur during driving.
Ford's engineers became aware of the issues as early as 2016, but despite this knowledge, many vehicles were never formally recalled or repaired. The company has been accused by car owners of using "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests for nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are toxic pollutants released into the atmosphere.
The problem lay in the design of the emissions control systems, which were calibrated to become less effective when exposed to sulphur in fuel. In a test conducted in 2017, all 27 Ford vehicles with Euro 6 engines failed to meet emissions standards. This was not an isolated incident, as the issue affected millions of vehicles.
The claimants, representing around 1.6 million diesel vehicle owners, argue that Ford deliberately designed its engines to pass certification tests rather than reducing real-world emissions. Internal documents show that the company recognized this issue as early as 2012 and made adjustments to trap more NOx at the expense of capturing other gases.
A critical piece of evidence highlighted a Euro 5 transit van that failed to meet NOx emissions standards when driven in sixth gear, yet was allowed to do so under the NEDC tests. The van's gear shift indicator even encouraged drivers to switch up to sixth gear when they reached speeds of 100km/h (62mph), where the system to reduce NOx was ineffective.
Ford denies creating defeat devices and has described the claim as "scientifically illiterate." However, with millions of vehicles affected worldwide, including those sold in the UK, it is clear that this issue extends far beyond a single company. The trial continues to examine vehicles from six manufacturers, including Ford, Mercedes, Renault, Nissan, and Peugeot/Citroรซn, which was sparked by the "Dieselgate" scandal in 2015.
A shocking revelation has emerged in a UK court, revealing that around one million Ford diesel cars sold in the country between 2016 and 2018 were equipped with emissions controls that were severely compromised due to a sulphur content in fuel. This defect would render the systems less effective when exposed to pollution from sulphur during driving.
Ford's engineers became aware of the issues as early as 2016, but despite this knowledge, many vehicles were never formally recalled or repaired. The company has been accused by car owners of using "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests for nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are toxic pollutants released into the atmosphere.
The problem lay in the design of the emissions control systems, which were calibrated to become less effective when exposed to sulphur in fuel. In a test conducted in 2017, all 27 Ford vehicles with Euro 6 engines failed to meet emissions standards. This was not an isolated incident, as the issue affected millions of vehicles.
The claimants, representing around 1.6 million diesel vehicle owners, argue that Ford deliberately designed its engines to pass certification tests rather than reducing real-world emissions. Internal documents show that the company recognized this issue as early as 2012 and made adjustments to trap more NOx at the expense of capturing other gases.
A critical piece of evidence highlighted a Euro 5 transit van that failed to meet NOx emissions standards when driven in sixth gear, yet was allowed to do so under the NEDC tests. The van's gear shift indicator even encouraged drivers to switch up to sixth gear when they reached speeds of 100km/h (62mph), where the system to reduce NOx was ineffective.
Ford denies creating defeat devices and has described the claim as "scientifically illiterate." However, with millions of vehicles affected worldwide, including those sold in the UK, it is clear that this issue extends far beyond a single company. The trial continues to examine vehicles from six manufacturers, including Ford, Mercedes, Renault, Nissan, and Peugeot/Citroรซn, which was sparked by the "Dieselgate" scandal in 2015.