EPA v. FORD MOTOR CO.

Case summary

THE FORD CASE CONCERNED PROGRAMMING OF THE VEHICLES' COMPUTERS TO PERFORM DIFFERENTLY UNDER CONDITIONS OF ACTUAL, REAL-WORLD USE, FROM THE PERFORMANCE ON THE FEDERALLYMANDATED CERTIFICATION TEST. FORD PROGRAMMED 1997 ECONOLINE VANS TO RUN WITH A LEANER AIR-TO-FUEL RATIO AT SPEEDS ABOVE 44 MPH, RESULTING IN EMISSION OF MORE THAN 2,500 EXCESS OF NOX EMISSIONS AS OF THE DATE THE CONSENT DECREE WAS LODGED IN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT. THE FORD SETTLEMENT HAS FOUR COMPONENTS. FIRST, A CIVIL PENALTY OF $2.5 MILLION, WHICH EQUATES TO $42 PER ENGINE (60,342 ECONOLINES WERE OUT OF COMPLIANCE). FORD HAS AGREED TO RECALL AND RECALIBRATE ALL OF THE AFFECTED ECONOLINES TO PREVENT FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL HARM FROM THESE VEHICLES (FORD'S COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE $1.3 MILLION). FORD WILL SPEND $1.5 MILLION TO INITIATE A PROJECT WHICH WILL CURTAIL HARMFUL EMISSIONS FROM MOBILE SOURCES IN THE FUTURE (LIKELY TO TAKE THE FORM OF SUPPLYING CLEANER COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS VEHICLES TO AN AIRPORT). FORD WILL ALSO SPEND UP TO $2.5 MILLION TO PURCHASE 2,500 TONS OF NOX CREDITS AND RETIRE THEM. 2,500 TONS WAS THE ESTIMATED EXCEEDANCE FROM ALL OF THE 1997 ECONOLINES FROM THE TIME THEY WERE INTRODUCED INTO COMMERCE AND THE DATE OF THE SETTLEMENT.

Defendants (1)

• FORD MOTOR CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• FORD MOTOR CO WHQ-FMCC BUILDINGS

  AMERICAN RD, DEARBORN, MI, 48126

  Registry ID: 110001848519

Statutes cited

• CAA 203A — Clean Air Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• FORD MOTOR CO.entered 1998-06-08

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $2,500,000 · SEP: $1,500,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1997-08-21Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1998-06-08Final Order Lodged
• 1998-06-08Final Order Entered
• 1998-06-08Complaint Filed With Court
• 1998-06-08Concluded
• 1998-10-31Enforcement Action Data Entered