Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a recall of approximately 500,000 trucks because of defective emission controls.
The EPA said that Cummins Inc. will voluntarily recall roughly 500,000 model year 2010-2015 medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The recall will address a “faulty emissions control systems component that causes excess emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) … The trucks being recalled are equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems designed to control NOx emissions. NOx is a potent air pollutant that contributes to smog and fine particle formation in the atmosphere. The SCR catalysts that will be replaced through the recall were found to be less durable than is required, degrading within a few years instead of controlling NOx pollution for the regulatory full useful life of the vehicle. The recall will replace these SCR system components. The full useful life of medium-duty vehicles is 185,000 miles or ten years (whichever is first), and the full useful life of heavy-duty vehicles is 435,000 miles or ten years.”
The EPA says that this is the largest voluntary truck emissions recall to date.
Cummins will contact recalled truck owners with more information on how and when the repairs will be made.
The EPA did not make mention of taking any punitive action against Cummins.
“Today’s recall is a great example of how government and industry work together to protect health and the environment.” said EPA Office of Air and Radiation Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum. “This is the way it’s supposed to work. Our follow-up testing seeks to make sure that pollution controls work throughout an engine’s useful life. And, if they don’t, then companies step up to set things right.”