Mercedes-Benz USA is under investigation by the Department of Justice for potential discrepancies concerning its diesel-emissions certifications, according to a Daimler statement released today.
Last Friday, the DOJ effectively told MBUSA to begin an internal investigation “to review its certification and admissions process related to exhaust emissions in the United States,” Daimler said. “Daimler is cooperating fully with the authorities,” the statement read. “Daimler will consequently investigate possible indications of irregularities and of course take all necessary actions.”
The investigation stems from a February 18 class action lawsuit filed by Hagens Berman, the firm which won $1.1 billion against Toyota for its floor mats and is suing General Motors for at least $350 million over defective ignition switches. Hagens Berman claims all Mercedes BlueTec diesel models emit more oxides of nitrogen when the ambient temperature is cooler due to a “shut-off device” that allows greater emissions when the temperature falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The suit, which added additional plaintiffs on April 7, references multiple studies on Mercedes diesel vehicles in the months following the Volkswagen diesel scandal. Those studies, conducted by various government and independent organizations in the U.K., the Netherlands, and Germany, alleged that certain cars were polluting several times higher than standards allowed. The Hagen...