The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that Fiat Chrysler will recall 862,520 vehicles for failing to meet U.S. emissions standards, Reuters reported early Wednesday. Surprisingly, the cars involved allegedly weren’t diesels, but actually gasoline vehicles like the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass.
The recall will cover only the saddest Chrysler models built this millennium, including, according to Reuters: the Dodge Journey (2011 to 2016), Chrysler 200 (2011-2014), Dodge Avenger (2011-2014), Dodge Caliber (2011-2012), Jeep Compass (2011-2016), and Jeep Patriot (2011-2016).
The story states that the recall was the result of EPA “in-use” emissions testing investigations as well as Fiat Chrysler’s own testing. Reuters received comment from the EPA:
“EPA welcomes the action by Fiat Chrysler to voluntarily recall its vehicles that do not meet U.S. emissions standards,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement. “We will provide assistance to consumers navigating the recall and continue to ensure that auto manufacturers abide by our nation’s laws designed to protect human health and the environment.
Fixing these cars is apparently going to require new hardware—specifically, the EPA said in a statement to Reuters, components associated with the catalytic converter will need to be replaced. And because the fix is so involved, and there are so many vehicles affected, the government agency said the recall will happen in phases this year.
We’ve reached out to Fiat Chrysler and the EPA, and will update this story as we hear more.
Update March 13, 2019 11:36 A.M. ET: A Fiat Chrysler representative emailed the following statement to Jalopnik:
We are advised that today’s EPA announcement reflects a new policy for announcing routine emissions recalls. This campaign has no safety implications. Nor are there any associated fines. This issue was discovered by FCA during routine in-use emissions testing and reported to the agency. We began contacting affected customers last month to advise them of the needed repairs, which will be provided at no charge.
The company spokesperson also said that precious metals from the catalytic converters will be recycled.