Stellantis faces lawsuit over alleged emissions software in campers

A lawsuit has been initiated against Stellantis, the parent company of brands including Fiat, regarding the alleged use of prohibited defeat device software in camper vans. The legal action, led by Stichting Car Claim with support from the Consumentenbond, ConsumentenClaim, and the Nederlandse Kampeerauto Club (NKC), seeks compensation for affected owners.

The allegations focus on campers equipped with Fiat diesel engines meeting Euro 5 or Euro 6 standards. It is claimed that illegal software disables systems designed to clean exhaust gases under normal driving conditions, causing vehicles to emit significantly more pollutants than legally permitted. Interest groups suggest that tens of thousands of such campers were sold on the Dutch market between September 1, 2009, and 2022.

Advocates argue that these vehicles are worth less because they do not comply with legal standards. While the current case involves a single camper, the outcome is expected to impact a much larger group of owners. The Consumentenbond noted that Stellantis has declined to discuss compensation with the interest groups, though similar compensation has reportedly been granted to affected owners in Germany.