Over Half a Million UK Vauxhalls Could Be Polluting More Than Advertised

The Vauxhall emissions scandal started quite recently but the carmaker has already attracted the attention of law firms. Affected car owners and their legal representatives are already working on diesel emissions claims that can reward them with compensation. Experts expect each driver to receive at least £2,500, or between 25% and 75% of the total amount they paid for the vehicle. 

Over half a million Vauxhalls are believed to have been equipped with defeat devices intended to manipulate emissions tests. The carmaker promised high-driving performance and low environmental impact cars, but the vehicles violated emissions regulations. Vauxhall’s diesel vehicles did not perform as expected, so customers were cheated. The vehicles were mis-sold to unsuspecting drivers.

The affected models – used or new – are the Zafira, Corsa, and Astra diesel-powered vehicles that were leased or bought between the years 2009 and 2019.

Lawyers are working on a GLO or Group Litigation Order against the carmaker. A GLO means hundreds or thousands of individual claims are treated as one claim. Joining the group litigation is free although winning the case is not a guarantee.

Nevertheless, thousands upon thousands of affected drivers have already signed up for the group litigation. There are many more, though, that have yet to join the legal action. 

Despite recalling affected vehicles (as mandated by authorities), Vauxhall released a statement stating their rejection of the allegations of defeat device usage against them. 

What Vauxhall did

Vauxhall have potentially done what the Volkswagen Group did in September 2015 – they installed defeat devices in their diesel vehicles. These devices can sense when a vehicle is in the lab for testing and automatically – but temporarily – reduce emissions levels to within World Health Organization-recommended limits. As such, during testing, the vehicle performs like a fuel-efficient and eco-friendly automobile. In reality, though, the vehicle is a heavy pollutant.

When the vehicle is brought out of the lab and driven in real-life road conditions, it reverts to emitting high levels of nitrogen oxide or NOx. This group of gases is highly reactive and responsible for producing smog and acid rain, as well as a pollutant called ground-level ozone. NOx emissions are harmful to the environment and have life-threatening health impacts. Thus, vehicles with defeat devices are pollutants.

The Volkswagen Group used defeat devices for their Audi and Volkswagen vehicles. Hundreds of thousands of affected vehicles were recalled and the carmaker has spent billions to date in payoffs. 

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Renault, and Ford are only some of the other manufacturers that have had to recall vehicles and deal with payoffs. Vauxhall’s involvement in what became known as the Dieselgate scandal started in 2018 when its sister brand Opel was caught using defeat devices in several of their diesel vehicles. The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) ordered Opel to recall 100,000 affected vehicles.

The first batch of Vauxhall emissions claims started only last year but law firms are actively campaigning for more affected car owners to join the group litigation. 

Why you should join the claim

Vauxhall, like all the other carmakers involved in the diesel emissions scandal, allegedly misled their customers into paying a premium price for pollutant vehicles. 

Additionally, vehicles with defeat devices harm the environment. NOx has nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which are contributors to air pollution and has adverse effects on human health. 

If you are exposed to NOx emissions, you can experience frequent episodes of depression, anxiety, and other mental health-related issues. Your cognitive abilities may also be affected, and this can increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and/or other forms of dementia.

NOx emissions have serious impacts on your health. Effects range from mild health conditions to life-threatening ones. Asthma, breathing problems, respiratory illnesses such as emphysema, and lung problems are common impacts of low-level exposures. High-level NOx emissions exposure can have the following health impacts:

• Chronic lung function reduction
• Laryngospasm or vocal cords spasm
• Cancer
• Asphyxiation
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Premature death

NOx, and air pollution in general, is responsible for thousands of early deaths around the world every year.

Based on the findings of authorities, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, and all the other carmakers involved in the scandal should be held responsible for their illegal actions. Additionally, it is your right as an affected car owner to bring an emissions claim against your manufacturer. You deserve compensation for the environmental inconvenience and health risks Vauxhall subjected you to.

How should I begin my diesel claim?

Before you start the claims process and work with emissions experts, you need to have your eligibility verified first. Not all vehicles are affected by defeat devices, so you should check first if your Vauxhall’s model and manufacture date are on the list.

It’s very straightforward: all you have to do is visit ClaimExperts.co.uk and you’ll get all the information you need to determine your next step in the diesel claim process. Get verified now so you can start working on your claim.