Between the years 2009 and 2018, thousands of diesel vehicles manufactured by Nissan were allegedly equipped with defeat devices. The diesel emissions scandal accusations against the Japanese brand started in June 2020, with the focus being the Qashqai models in the UK. 

A British law firm said that a Department for Transport (DfT) document provided information indicating that around 100,000 Nissan Qashqai 1.2 litre petrol-powered violated emissions regulations. Records showed that emissions were more than the legal limits by at least 15 times. 

Aside from the DfT document, data was also collected from an independent test on around 600,000 Nissan vehicles sold in the UK. These were all allegedly equipped with illegal defeat devices. Apart from the Qashqai, other Nissan models were also on the list, including the X-Trail, Juke, and Note. 

The data provided by the DfT was part of a freedom of information request to the carmaker made on behalf of the UK government. Authorities ordered the carmaker to recall affected vehicles and fix them, but Nissan did not do as requested. 

The tests on Nissan vehicles started in 2017 when authorities discovered that the Qashqai emitted exceedingly high levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions after a Real Driving Emissions test was conducted. The following year, DfT notified the carmaker again about the excessive NOx emissions of their Qashqais. Authorities described the vehicle as not well-designed enough to control nitrogen oxide emissions during real-world driving. 

Nissan, like most of the carmakers involved in the Dieselgate scandal, denied the accusations and stressed that their vehicles strictly follow approved emissions standards. 

Nevertheless, authorities continue to investigate the carmaker. Nissan emission claims have even started in the UK and other parts of the world, so affected car owners (though not all of them) are already aware that their vehicle’s performance and emissions quality have been compromised.

Affected drivers are expected to receive compensation in exchange for the inconveniences that the defeat device caused them, as well as for overpaying for non-emissions-compliant vehicles. If law firms’ calculations are correct, each driver can receive approximately £5000. This is not the final amount, though, as the compensation equivalent is decided by the courts.

The Nissan diesel emissions case is an offshoot of the 2015 Dieselgate scandal started by German carmaker the Volkswagen Group.

How did the Dieselgate scandal start?

The California Air Resources Board (CARB), along with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), allegedly found defeat devices in Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles sold to US drivers. In September 2015, they issued a Notice of Violation to the carmaker and ordered them to recall hundreds of thousands of affected vehicles.

Authorities also fined VW and over the years, the carmaker has spent millions paying off compensation, fines, and legal fees, among others.

A few years later, authorities started investigating other carmakers about the use of defeat devices. Over the years, the Dieselgate scandal has reached other countries, including the UK. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, and Vauxhall are only some of the carmakers that were added to the list of alleged emissions regulations violators. Authorities embroiled Nissan in the scandal in 2020. 

What makes defeat devices illegal?

Defeat devices are programmed to manipulate emissions when a vehicle is being tested in the lab. This makes them an environmental and health threat. 

Once a defeat device senses that testing on a vehicle is about to start or has started, it reduces emissions levels to match legal limits. However, this emission-compliant mode is only temporary. As soon as the vehicle is out on the roads for real-world driving, it once again emits unlawful amounts of NOx. 

NOx emissions are made of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO), which are significant contributors to air pollution and can impact human health. 

As it is highly reactive, NOx can produce gases when it combines with other elements. It is known to contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain, as well as the production of ground-level ozone.

Drivers exposed to NOx emissions can suffer from mental health-related issues, specifically depression and anxiety. Cognitive abilities may also be affected and when this happens, their risk for dementia increases.

The most common health impacts are corroded teeth, difficulty breathing, asthma, and nausea and vomiting. 

Exposure to nitrogen oxides may also lead to serious, life-threatening health conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer, cardiovascular illnesses, and early death. 

These health impacts are the biggest reasons why authorities are busy conducting investigations, ordering vehicle recalls, and bringing carmakers to court with the help of law firms.

Car owners also deserve to be compensated after their manufacturers deceived them into buying high-polluting vehicles at premium prices. For this to happen, they need to file a diesel claim against their carmaker. 

What is my diesel claim all about?

A diesel claim is a legal process that will hold your carmaker responsible for exposing you and the public to dangerous defeat devices. It is your legal right to bring your manufacturer to court and claim compensation for the financial inconveniences and life-altering health impacts.

You won’t have to pay for anything to start your emission claim, but you do need to visit Emissions.co.uk to verify your eligibility to receive compensation. Get an emissions expert to help you work on your case. Visit their website here – https://www.emissions.co.uk/