Is there yet another emissions scandal?
A Hino Motors internal review has reportedly found that some of the electronic emissions control systems in certain of its 2016-2019 vehicles were manipulated to fraudulently show better fuel economy and earn better emissions certifications. We’re investigating these reports.
Hino Motors is a Japanese manufacturer of commercial vehicles as well as diesel engines for use in trucks, buses, and other vehicles. Majority-owned by Toyota Motor Corporation, it operates factories in Japan and Thailand, and makes part in the US for Toyota.
Many of us remember the emissions cheating that was discovered in 2015 in diesel vehicles for Volkswagen and other companies.
An article in Autoevolution.com claims that Hino was asked in 2016 if it had discovered any information about falsified emissions data and that the company said no.
According to Dieselnet.com, the problem was “discovered through an internal investigation of on-road engines for the North American market. Hino provided an initial report of its findings to the ‘relevant regulators’. Subsequently, the US Department of Justice commenced an investigation…” In 2018, US authorities told Hino that its trucks were not up to standard.
Hino’s internal investigation found “past misconduct” relating to emissions standards in previous years. An article on The Truth About Cars website alleges that “fuel economy ratings tabulated during testing had been tampered with by engineers.”
Autoevolution.com claims the problems occurred at Japanese plants because “[e]mployees were switching important exhaust systems parts to reach the desired results when it came to establishing emissions.”
The company’s statements may support this allegation. “Based on the findings to date,” a prepared company statement claimed, “Hino believes that it failed to appropriately respond to internal pressures to achieve certain targets and meet schedules that were placed on Hino employees[.]”
As a result of its findings, Hino has decided to suspend sales of the A05C (HC-SCR) medium-duty engine and the A09C and E13C heavy-duty engines and vehicles equipped with these engines.
The vehicles under investigation include the following vehicles:
- 2016-2022 Hino Ranger
- 2016-2022 Hino Profia
- 2016-2022 Hino S’elega
- 2016-2022 Hino 195
- 2016-2022 Hino 258
- 2016-2022 Hino 268
- 2016-2022 Hino 338
- 2019 Toyota Coaster
Hino and Toyota may recall some 150,000 vehicles.
We’re investigating to see if a class action is needed. If you own one of the above engines or vehicles, fill out the form below and let us know about it.
Article Type: InvestigationTopic: Automobile