Suit: Volkswagen installed car software that hides high gas emissions

Three people filed two different lawsuits Monday alleging that Volkswagen intentionally installed software in a Jetta model that was designed to hide the amount of pollutants it emits during smog tests.

Doug Kroenig, Adam Glick and Elizabeth Heidtbrink filed the lawsuits against Volkswagen Group of America Inc. in Cook County Circuit Court alleging that Volkswagen knowingly installed a “defeat device” in both of their TDI Clean Diesel Jetta models that hides the amount of pollutants the car emits during tests required under state and federal law, the lawsuits said.

The lawsuits state that the cars emits up to 40 times more pollutants than allowed under Illinois regulations and the EPA’s Clean Air Act, and that Volkswagen falsely advertised the car as environmentally friendly. It also alleges that Volkswagen violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and is guilty of Common Law Fraud.

The three-count lawsuits seek more than $50,000 in damages, for the cost and repairs of the car, “severe aggravation and inconvenience” and attorney fees and litigation expenses.

Volkwagen could not be immediately reached for comment.