Porsche altered its cars to cheat emissions standards
Investigations undertaken by both the press and the lawsuit’s plaintiffs reveal an extensive scheme to artificially lower the results of government emissions tests, allowing Porsche to evade emissions regulations and to deceive its customers. Ultimately, this scheme encompassed hundreds of thousands of Porsche vehicles sold in the United States.
The lawsuit alleges that Porsche physically altered the gears connecting the drive shaft and rear axle as well as manipulated the software installed in vehicles used in government tests so that they would appear to perform more efficiently. The cars sold to customers did not contain these alterations, and so emitted more pollutants and were less fuel efficient than the vehicles that were tested. Porsche also falsely claimed that some vehicles’ “Sport Plus” high-performance driving mode also met emissions requirements. In fact, the amount of pollutants emitted during Sport Plus mode made it illegal to import or sell these vehicles in the United States. These unlawful actions deceived regulators and consumers alike.
Porsche drivers bought or leased cars under false pretenses
For many drivers, the environmental friendliness, fuel economy, and distance covered between fuel tank refills are important factors in their decision to purchase or lease a vehicle. Porsche’s advertising for its model year 2007-2017 vehicles misrepresented their true environmental impact and fuel efficiency. Customers paid for the features they were told these cars had, continued to pay more for fuel while they drove the vehicles, and were inconvenienced by more frequent trips to gas stations. These concrete injuries are the direct result of Porsche’s misconduct.
Car owners are suing Porsche due to fraud
In a class-action complaint filed in October 2020, plaintiffs allege that Porsche—and parent company Volkswagen—undertook an emissions and fuel economy scheme to mislead government regulators and cheat customers. They believe that a decade’s worth of Porsche-branded vehicles sold in the United States emit more pollution and obtain worse fuel economy on the road than in regulatory testing. In the complaint, owners of Porsche Panamera, Boxster / Cayman, 911, and Cayenne models from 2007-2017 have found discrepancies between the advertised fuel efficiency and their vehicle’s actual fuel efficiency.
Porsche and corporate family have a long history of cheating on emissions and fuel economy. Volkswagen has admitted to similar cheating schemes in millions of its cars since the “Dieselgate” scandal was first uncovered in 2015. Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche had deliberately installed defeat devices into their vehicles—software designed to cheat emissions tests and deceive federal and state regulators. When the vehicles were driven on the road, the vehicles emit noxious pollutants like oxides of nitrogen at up to 40 times the legal limit. Only by installing the defeat device on their vehicles were Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche able to obtain permission to sell the vehicles and deceive the public about their true value.
Am I eligible?
Drivers who bought or leased a model year 2007-2017 Porsche vehicle may be eligible for compensation. Affected models may include:
- 2009–2016 Porsche Boxster and Boxster S
- 2009–2016 Porsche Cayman and Cayman S
- 2012–2016 Porsche 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S
- 2010–2013 Porsche Panamera S
Seeger Weiss LLP can help determine whether you have a case. Call today to speak with our attorneys.
About Seeger Weiss
For victims of corporate fraud, abuse, or malfeasance, legal action can offer both a remedy and a way to hold corporate wrongdoers to account. Seeger Weiss LLP has represented victims of large-scale corporate wrongdoing for more than two decades. Seeger Weiss represented drivers in the world’s largest corporate settlement in history: over $21 billion from Volkswagen after the automaker equipped “clean diesel” cars with devices to cheat emissions standards tests. Seeger Weiss currently represents thousands of car buyers all over the United States in active litigation against carmakers GM and BMW.