Most drivers have heard of Dieselgate, the scandal where diesel car manufacturers were caught using illegal software to cheat emissions tests. Starting in 2015 with Volkswagen, investigations later discovered diesel vehicles by other car manufacturers were also emitting toxic fumes way above the legal limits.
In 2022, Volkswagen agreed to pay £193 million to settle claims from over 90,000 drivers. And, in 2025, trials begin to hold other manufacturers to account. These diesel emissions claims show that carmakers who mislead customers can be held accountable – and that affected owners might be entitled to compensation. But what many people don’t realise is that petrol car manufacturers are now under scrutiny for similar tactics.
For years, the spotlight has focused solely on diesels and their high nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Petrol engines generally produce less NOx, so they escaped the same level of suspicion. But over the last few years, new allegations suggest some petrol models may also have been equipped with defeat devices to pass lab tests. In other words, the emissions scandal is evolving, and petrol car owners could now have a stake in the fight.
Allegations of defeat devices in petrol models
The issue burst into the news in June 2020, when a UK law firm announced shocking findings about certain petrol cars. Lawyers alleged up to 100,000 petrol Nissan Qashqai cars were suspected of having illegal defeat device software. In fact, according to media reports, documents obtained by the firm showed the popular 1.2-litre petrol Qashqai was breaking emissions limits by up to 15 times when driven on the road.
Petrol emissions scandal: Why is this so serious?
A defeat device allows a car to “know” when it’s in a lab test and temporarily curb its pollution. During official testing the car keeps emissions within legal limits, but out on real streets it may spew far more pollutants than advertised. In the Nissan case, lawyers suspected the cars were “on their best behaviour” only during lab tests, then disabled or reduced emissions controls in normal driving.
If true, this would be the first major instance of petrol cars caught cheating emissions tests – a milestone the lawyer leading the case highlighted: “For the first time, we have seen evidence that car manufacturers may be cheating emissions tests of petrol, as well as diesel vehicles.”
Nissan strongly denies the allegations.
Are petrol car drivers facing a ‘Petrolgate’?
The Nissan Qashqai case raises the question: is there a broader problem with petrol car emissions? Dieselgate taught us that once one cheat was exposed, many others followed. If Volkswagen was just the tip of the iceberg for diesels, could the same be true for petrol vehicles? It’s too early to say there’s a full-blown “Petrolgate” on our hands, but the signs are concerning enough that lawyers are paying attention.
What can owners of affected petrol models do about alleged emissions cheating?
If you owned or leased an affected petrol car, you might rightly feel angry. These cars were marketed as meeting EU emissions standards, yet allegedly polluted far above legal limits in real life. Beyond the environmental and health impact, there’s a personal cost: excessive fuel consumption, potential performance issues, and reduced resale value for your vehicle.
Legal claims for petrol emissions are still in the early stages, but investigations are ongoing. If legal action moves forward, a group claim could be launched in the UK, similar to previous emissions cases. Some estimates suggest drivers could be due roughly £5,000 per vehicle in damages if legal claims succeed.
Can I claim petrol emissions compensation?
If you own or lease a petrol vehicle – or have done since 2009 – and want to stay informed about a potential claim, now is the time to register your interest.
