(January 13, 2017) The Environmental Protection Agency has charged Fiat Chrysler for failing to disclose engine management software that increases emissions on certain diesel vehicles. EPA says FCA violated the Clean Air Act, although the automaker denies wrongdoing.

The allegations cover roughly 104,000 vehicles sold by FCA. These vehicles include 2014, 2015, and 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks with 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 engines.

Automakers may install auxiliary emissions control devices in the name of ensuring engine durability. Under law, automakers must report any type of software that can alter how a vehicle emits air pollution. According to the EPA, FCA failed to disclose the existence of these devices during the vehicle certification process.

In a statement, the EPA said it found at least eight pieces of undisclosed software on FCA vehicles. Testing revealed that the vehicles produce increased nitrogen oxide emissions under normal operating conditions, according to the EPA.

Fiat Chrysler on Thursday responded to the EPA charges

FCA US is disappointed that the EPA has chosen to issue a notice of violation with respect to the emissions control technology employed in the company’s 2014-16 model year light duty 3.0-liter diesel engines.

FCA US intends to work with the incoming administration to present its case and resolve this matter fairly and equitably and to assure the EPA and FCA US customers that the company’s diesel-powered vehicles meet all applicable regulatory requirements.

FCA US diesel engines are equipped with state-of-the-art emission control systems hardware, including selective catalytic reduction (SCR).  Every auto manufacturer must employ various strategies to control tailpipe emissions in order to balance EPA’s regulatory requirements for low nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and requirements for engine durability and performance, safety and fuel efficiency. FCA US believes that its emission control systems meet the applicable requirements.

FCA US has spent months providing voluminous information in response to requests from EPA  and other governmental authorities and has sought to explain its emissions control technology to EPA representatives.  FCA US has proposed a number of actions to address EPA’s concerns, including developing extensive software changes to our emissions control strategies that could be implemented in these vehicles immediately to further improve emissions performance.

FCA US looks forward to the opportunity to meet with the EPA’s enforcement division and representatives of the new administration to demonstrate that FCA US’s emissions control strategies are properly justified and thus are not “defeat devices” under applicable regulations and to resolve this matter expeditiously.