The global emissions-cheating scandal started when US investigators discovered Volkswagen had been selling cars with illegal defeat devices. These devices artificially lowered emissions during testing to meet EU regulations. However, when these same vehicles were driven on the road, they were proven to emit significantly higher levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) gases. Researchers subsequently uncovered other car manufacturers using defeat devices and emitting toxic fumes way above legal limits.   

Is my petrol car affected by emissions fraud?  

Until recently, emissions lawsuits have focused solely on diesel vehicles, but that could all be about to change. And if you bought or leased a petrol car that breached emissions limits, you could be due up to 5,000 in compensation. 

Which petrol cars have emissions defeat devices? 

In 2019, independent testers warned that some petrol models showed “unusual discrepancies” between lab and road emissions results, hinting that carmakers might be optimising petrol cars to game the tests​. According to the report, there was a “24 percent difference between official CO2 figures and real-world tests”.  

In 2020, a UK law firm alleged that up to 100,000 petrol Nissan Qashqai cars were suspected of having illegal defeat device software. The firm claimed to have seen documents proving the popular 1.2-litre petrol Qashqai was breaking emissions limits by up to 15 times when driven on the road.  

If true, and you owned or leased an affected car, you might feel angry. Owners effectively paid for “clean” cars but got polluters instead, which is why lawyers argue they deserve compensation. It’s important to note that Nissan strongly denies any wrongdoing. Nissan responded that it “has not and does not employ defeat devices” and insists all its cars comply with emissions laws​. 

Petrol emissions developments  

Since the initial revelations, emissions claims have gained momentum in the UK. As well as the forthcoming ‘Dieselgate’ trials, some law firms are currently investigating whether to launch a group lawsuit against car manufacturers for ‘Petrolgate’.  

These lawyers believe certain petrol cars perform much cleaner in lab tests than they do on the road – a pattern very reminiscent of what sparked Dieselgate. If these claims go ahead, it could open the floodgates for further investigations into petrol models. In short, “Petrolgate” isn’t fully here yet, but it may be on the horizon. 

For car owners, this means you should stay informed. If it is proven that your petrol car contained a defeat device, then the manufacturer likely breached consumer protection laws, violated vehicle regulations, and essentially sold you a product under false pretences​. What this means in practical terms is that you might be due compensation for the harm caused.  

This isn’t just about punishing the car companies – it’s about making drivers whole for any losses. Potential losses include the extra money you might have spent on fuel (if the car wasn’t as efficient as claimed), higher maintenance costs (excess soot or strain on the engine from the irregular emissions control), and the drop in resale value once the scandal came to light.  

Register today and stand up for your rights  

Petrol emission claims are still in the early stages, but if legal action moves forward, a group claim could be launched in the UK. As the lawyers gear up to tackle the issue, now is the time to ensure your name is on the list if you think you’re affected. 

If you own or have owned a petrol vehicle and want to stay informed about a potential claim, register your interest today.  

It’s free to sign up and we’ll let you know as soon as there are any developments.