Settlement FAQs

should i take the vw settlement

by Ahmad Bednar DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Most owners are expected to take the settlement. As of Sept. 16, which was the dead-line to opt out of the settlement, 3,298 owners said they wouldn’t participate. Those who don’t accept the settlement could sue VW, but it’s not guaranteed they would get better terms.

Full Answer

What is the CAA settlement with Volkswagen?

Under the CAA 2.0 liter partial settlement, Volkswagen must remove from commerce in the United States or perform an approved emissions modification on at least 85 percent of the affected 2.0 liter vehicles by June 2019. VW must also meet a separate 85 percent recall rate in California.

What kind of car is covered by the Volkswagen TDI settlement?

The settlement applies to vehicles with 2-liter TDI engines vehicles. The makes and models that are covered are: VW Beetles from 2013-2015; VW Golfs from 2010-2015; VW Jettas from 2009-2015; VW Passats from 2012-2015; and Audi A3s from 2010-2013 and 2015.

What does the VW emissions settlement mean for You?

The settlement may provide a measure of relief to VW owners, who have expressed concern about not only the value of their cars but ongoing emissions issues. Many customers had been drawn to the carmaker's image of "clean diesel" and felt betrayed after researchers uncovered the emissions cheat last year.

How much did it cost to settle the Volkswagen scandal?

The Volkswagen Group has spent about £25bn globally on legal costs and said the decision to settle was “prudent”. It added: “No admissions in respect of liability, causation or loss have been made by any of the defendants in the group action as part of the settlement.

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How much compensation will VW owners get UK?

THOUSANDS of Volkswagon owners are in line to get an average of £2,100 in a payout following the emissions scandal. The German car maker has agreed a £193million settlement with 91,000 UK motorists.

Are VW paying compensation?

More than 90,000 people will receive a share of £193million following a court settlement related to the VW emissions scandal. The Volkswagen Group will pay out a share of £193million to around 91,000 drivers in England and Wales following a high-profile lawsuit relating to the 'Dieselgate' scandal.

How much will VW pay for buyback?

VW owners who had their vehicles when the scandal erupted in September 2015 have two options. They are generally eligible for a vehicle buyback ranging in value from $12,500 to $44,000. Or they can get their car fixed to make it legal and receive a payout ranging from about $5,000 to $10,000.

How much money did Volkswagen lose in a recent settlement for violating the Clean Air Act?

Under the third partial settlement, Volkswagen has paid a $1.45 billion civil penalty for the alleged civil violations of the Clean Air Act.

How much will I get from the VW emissions scandal?

The Volkswagen Group has reached an out of court settlement with claimants in a class action lawsuit following the dieselgate emissions scandal. A payout of £193 million has been agreed, which averages £2,120 for each of the 91,000 owners that joined the claim.

Is it too late to claim against Volkswagen?

The statute of limitations is thought to end for the claims with the longest statute of limitations in or around September 2021, six years after the VW defeat device software became publicly known in England and Wales.

How does VW buyback work?

Volkswagen owners and lessees who are eligible can either bring their VW in for compliance modification, allow us to buy back their vehicle or end their lease early. In some cases, an additional cash settlement can be offered. Numbers vary, but eligible drivers can receive as much as $10,000 from Volkswagen.

How many cars did VW buy back?

In the end, after paying huge fines and seeing key executives head to prison, VW agreed to buy back nearly 380,000 of the offending cars in the United States, to fix or scrap.

Which VW cars are affected by the emissions scandal?

Affected vehicles2.0 liter diesel vehicle models and model years with defeat devices: Jetta (2009 – 2015) Jetta Sportwagen (2009 - 2014) Beetle (2013 – 2015) ... 3.0 liter diesel vehicle models and model years with defeat devices: Volkswagen Touareg (2009 - 2016) Porsche Cayenne (2013 - 2016) Audi A6 Quattro (2014 - 2016)

How much did Volkswagen pay out?

Volkswagen is to pay £193m to more than 90,000 drivers in England and Wales after it settled a High Court claim over the installation of emissions cheating devices in its vehicles.

Who was responsible for the Volkswagen scandal?

Hanno Jelden, who prosecutors said was in charge of the development of the illegal software at the heart of the scheme, attributed the long silence over the software malfunction in part to Volkswagen's company culture, which he described as one where problems were to be solved quickly rather than analysed.

Why did VW lie about emissions?

Knowing that the diesel vehicles would evade U.S. emissions standards, Volkswagen misrepresented them for years in order to get EPA and CARB certifications that allowed the vehicles to be sold in the U.S. When EPA and CARB finally began to catch on, Volkswagen equivocated until regulators threatened to withhold ...

How much did Volkswagen pay out?

Volkswagen is to pay £193m to more than 90,000 drivers in England and Wales after it settled a High Court claim over the installation of emissions cheating devices in its vehicles.

How much did Volkswagen pay fines?

Volkswagen and BMW are fined nearly $1 billion for colluding on emissions technology. Daimler, which blew the whistle on the scandal, avoided a big fine from European antitrust officials.

What was Volkswagens punishment?

In April 2017, a US federal judge ordered Volkswagen to pay a $2.8 billion criminal fine for "rigging diesel-powered vehicles to cheat on government emissions tests". The "unprecedented" plea deal formalized the punishment which Volkswagen had agreed to.

How does VW buy back work?

Volkswagen owners and lessees who are eligible can either bring their VW in for compliance modification, allow us to buy back their vehicle or end their lease early. In some cases, an additional cash settlement can be offered. Numbers vary, but eligible drivers can receive as much as $10,000 from Volkswagen.

What is VW buyback?

“Buyback” is a term that has a special meaning related to the VW settlement. Do not offer to “buyback” VW cars from consumers, because you do not have a role in the settlement.

Is Volkswagen a reliable brand?

Until recently, Volkswagen had a pristine reputation in the auto industry. They were viewed as a reliable, trusted brand with a legion of loyal followers. Unfortunately, the company found out firsthand what happens when you lie to consumers — a lot of negative publicity and a multi-billion-dollar VW settlement.

Does VW offer a buyback?

VW is offering either a car buyback (or early lease termination), plus cash, or they can make a modification to the current vehicle to improve emissions, plus cash. VW anticipates that most people will choose the buyback option.

Can you run a Volkswagen dealership?

You may run a Volkswagen dealership, but you are not allowed to suggest — in person, or in your marketing and advertising materials — that your business has any “official” or “authorized” role in the settlement.

Is VW settlement a big deal?

The VW settlement is a big deal, so if anyone is working at your dealership that doesn’t know about it , you need to make sure they do. Nothing will discredit your industry expertise faster than having an employee that’s unaware of one of the biggest auto manufacturer blunders of all time.

Can you claim affiliation with VW?

You’re not allowed to claim affiliation with the VW settlement, but you can certainly run advertisements that target individuals who may be receiving settlements. You are also allowed to offer deals to them.

What was the third partial settlement of Volkswagen?

Concurrent with the third partial settlement the United States Department of Justice resolved a criminal case against Volkswagen AG with a plea agreement for the offenses of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and entry of goods by false statement; and the United States Customs and Border Protection resolved civil fraud claims with Volkswagen arising from the illegal importation of affected vehicles. Details on these resolutions are not included on this page.

When did the second partial settlement of Volkswagen be approved?

On May 17, 2017, the court approved the second partial settlement addressing ...

How much did Volkswagen contribute to the CAA 3.0 settlement?

Under the CAA 3.0 liter partial settlement, Volkswagen contributed an additional $225 million in funding to the mitigation trust fund. There are two mitigation trust agreements created pursuant to the settlement: one for states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia and one for federally recognized Indian tribes.

How much did Volkswagen pay for the 2.0 liter recall?

Volkswagen estimates that the total cost of achieving the 85 percent recall rate required under the CAA 2.0 liter partial settlement, and concurrently satisfying the FTC stipulated order and class action settlement agreement, will be up to $10.033 billion.

Where is Volkswagen located?

Volkswagen AG is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany and is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. This is the parent company of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga, LLC, and Audi AG.

Does Volkswagen have emissions control?

Additionally, if Volkswagen proposes an emissions modification to EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the agencies approve it, Volkswagen must also offer owners and lessees the option of an emissions modification. The EPA and CARB will assess any proposed emissions modification according to detailed requirements including a substantial reduction in NO x emissions. Any approved emission modification will require extensive testing by Volkswagen and may include both software changes and new hardware. If approved, an emissions modification will reduce NO x emissions from the vast majority of vehicles by approximately 80 to 90 percent compared to their original condition. VW must provide consumers with an emissions modification disclosure that has been approved by EPA and CARB and that contains a clear and accurate description regarding all impacts of the emissions modification on the vehicle, including emissions levels as compared with the limits to which the vehicles were originally certified, and any impacts on fuel economy or vehicle maintenance. Any modified vehicle will also be covered by an extended warranty covering the emissions control system.

Did Volkswagen violate the Clean Air Act?

These settlements resolve allegations that Volkswagen violated the Clean Air Act (“CAA”) by the sale of approximately 590,000 model year 2009 to 2016 diesel motor vehicles equipped with “defeat devices.” The EPA alleged that these vehicles are equipped with defeat devices in the form of computer software designed to cheat on federal emissions tests. The major excess pollutant at issue in this case is oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) and is a serious health concern.

Is the case about something you can fix?

Chances are you can fix most things yourself, especially if you have knowledge on the subject at hand. For example, it is likely that if you were involved in a car accident caused by a VW diesel, it would be fairly easy to get a checkup at your local physician, and fix whatever was wrong.

What is the potential settlement amount?

If you are not sure how much money you may receive when you join a lawsuit, you should probably wait to join one of these lawsuits until you have a better idea of what you can actually ask for. A VW diesel accident lawyer may be able to give you a ballpark figure, but just because he says so does not mean it is true.

What happens to the cars VW buys back?

If there’s no approved emissions fix, VW must scrap the cars. They cannot be operated in the U.S. and the deal stipulated that they cannot be shipped elsewhere. Regulators say they will encourage VW to recycle any scrap that can be reused, officials said at a Department of Justice press conference today.

What sort of environmental mitigation will Volkswagen do?

She said Volkswagen also “will invest $2 billion in infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles in the United States. This includes charging stations and improving access to zero-emission vehicles.”

How much will I get?

It depends on the specific car and where you bought it. The proposed settlement uses the clean trade-in value from the NADA Used Car Guide’s September 2015 issue, adjusted for options and mileage regardless of its current condition.

What do I have to do to get that?

In the meantime, you can go to VW’s settlement website and enter your vehicle identification number and mileage to verify that it qualifies and to see the estimated value of your settlement. If all goes on schedule, the program could start as early as November. “The goal here is to make this as painless as well as a profitable a process for consumers as possible,” said Elizabeth Cabraser, a court-appointed lead counsel for the Volkswagen consumer plaintiffs in class action.

What if I leased my car?

Lessees can terminate their leases for free and receive an additional payment that works out to about half of the cash payment owners would get, according to court documents. It adds up to $2,634 to $4,955.

What if that fix affects mileage or performance? Can I still choose to take the buyback?

Yes. If Volkswagen can get a fix approved, it has to inform owners of any impact on mileage and performance, officials said today at a press conference for the plaintiffs’ committee. If you don’t like what you hear, you can take the buyback option instead. And if you get the fix but don’t like what it does to your car in practice, you’ll be able to seek lemon law-style protections, the plaintiffs’ committee said today. Volkswagen will also furnish an extended emissions warranty, court documents said.

Is it still legal to drive my car?

It should be. Whether you wait for the buyback program or fix to take place, it’s “anticipated that Class Members will be allowed to drive their cars legally through the course of the Class Settlement Program,” court documents said.

What is VW settlement?

The agreement, the largest auto-related class-action settlement in U.S. history, is designed to provide choice and flexibility to about 475,000 owners of VW vehicles that were engineered to cheat government emissions tests. Every owner or lessee of the cars covered by the agreement will receive cash compensation, ...

Will VW buy back the cars?

Under the agreement, VW will buy back the vehicles at their pre-scandal valuations . The settlement is "designed to achieve not only economic justice for consumers, but justice for the environment," said Elizabeth Cabraser, court-appointed lead counsel for the consumer plaintiffs, on a conference call to discuss the agreement.

Can VW owners keep their car?

VW owners can opt to keep their car, with the automaker providing a free modification to reduce emissions so that the vehicle passes inspection. Consumers will also receive the cash compensation. One issue to be aware of: VW has yet to come up with a fix that will be approved by U.S. regulators.

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Overview of Companies

  • Defendants in these CAA partial settlements are Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC, and Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (collectively here “Volkswagen”). 1. Volkswagen AGis headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany and is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacture…
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Clean Air Act Certification Requirements and Violations

  • The CAA and its regulations aim to protect human health and the environment, in part, by reducing harmful emissions from mobile sources of air pollution. The CAA partial settlements concern light-duty motor vehicles. Light-duty vehicles must satisfy tailpipe emission standards for certain air pollutants, including NOx. Pursuant to the CAA, the EPA administers a certification program t…
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Elements of The Settlement

  • CAA 2.0 Liter Partial Settlement
    Under the CAA 2.0 liter partial settlement, Volkswagen must remove from commerce in the United States or perform an approved emissions modification on at least 85 percent of the affected 2.0 liter vehicles by June 2019. VW must also meet a separate 85 percent recall rate in California. If …
  • CAA 3.0 Liter Partial Settlement
    Under the CAA 3.0 liter partial settlement, Volkswagen must remove from commerce in the United States or perform an approved emissions modification on at least 85 percent of the affected 3.0 liter vehicles. Volkswagen’s specific obligations for these vehicles differ depending on the techn…
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Mitigation

  • The CAA 2.0 liter partial settlement required Volkswagen to fund a $2.7 billion mitigation trust fund. Under the CAA 3.0 liter partial settlement, Volkswagen contributed an additional $225 million in funding to the mitigation trust fund. There are two mitigation trust agreements created pursuant to the settlement: one for states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia and …
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Zero Emission Vehicle (Zev) Investment

  • The CAA 2.0 liter partial settlement requires Volkswagen to invest $2 billion in ZEV charging infrastructure and in the promotion of ZEVs. The ZEV investments required by the CAA 2.0 liter partial settlement are intended to address the fact that consumers purchased these illegal vehicles under the mistaken belief that such vehicles were lower-emitting than others. Electrify …
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Health Effects and Environmental Benefits

  • NOx pollution contributes to the formation of harmful smog and soot, exposure to which is linked to a number of respiratory- and cardiovascular-related health effects as well as premature death. Children, older adults, people who are active outdoors (including outdoor workers), and people with heart or lung disease are particularly at risk for health effects related to smog or soot expos…
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Civil Penalty

  • Under the third partial settlement, Volkswagen has paid a $1.45 billion civil penalty for the alleged civil violations of the Clean Air Act.
See more on epa.gov

State and Regional Partners

  • The State of California, on behalf of its California Air Resource Board and the California Attorney General, joined the United States in both the 2.0 liter partial settlement and the 3.0 liter partial settlement.
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Actions to Prevent Future Violations

  • Volkswagen will take various measures to prevent future problems, including among other things the following (some but not all of the following requirements apply to the Porsche defendants). Pursuant to the third partial settlement, Volkswagen will ensure the personnel who test their vehicles for emissions compliance are separate from the personnel who design their vehicles. V…
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For More Information, Contacts

  • Volkswagen Case Team Air Enforcement Division U.S. EPA 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Mail Code 2242A Washington, DC 20460 [email protected]
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