The claim
In The Hague, Stichting Car Claim, Consumentenbond, ConsumentenClaim and the Dutch Camper Club (NKC) filed a lawsuit against Stellantis, the parent company of Fiat. The claim concerns motorhomes with Fiat diesel engines of Euro 5 or Euro 6 standards, in which prohibited timers, altitude sensors and temperature windows that disable exhaust gas cleaning systems are alleged to have been used. According to Consumentenbond, such motorhomes emit more harmful substances than legally allowed.
Stellantis's position
Stellantis rejects the accusations of installing prohibited software. The company calls the claims unfounded and unsupported and states that the engines complied and continue to comply with all applicable standards.
Scale
Formally the case concerns one motorhome, but its outcome could affect tens of thousands of owners. According to NKC, around 98,000 motorhomes in the Netherlands are built on the Fiat Ducatoⓘ base, used by many manufacturers including Adria, Bürstner, Carado, Carthago, Dethleffs, Hobby, Hymerⓘ, Knaus, Laika, Morelo, Pössl, Rapido, Roller Team, Sunlight and Weinsberg. Not all of them fall under the claim. More than 5,000 people have already joined the claim.
Demands and context
The claimants demand compensation for the loss in value for affected owners and free repairs to bring vehicles into compliance without compromising performance. The payout amount has not yet been determined. Stellantis refuses to negotiate compensation. In Germany, courts have already awarded compensation to owners of motorhomes with similar engines. In the Netherlands, such motorhomes were sold from 1 September 2009 to 2022; affected owners can check their license plate on the Consumentenbond Claimservice website and join the claim on a no cure, no pay basis — participation is free, and up to 25% is deducted in case of success.