Sales of Nissan's Qashqai, from Japanese automaker Nissan Korea were banned by the environment ministry of South Korea on Tuesday due to alleged emissions fabrication. The ministry banned sales of the Qashqai SUV model in the area.
The environment ministry also ordered Nissan Korea to recall all 814 units of Qashqai vehicles that were sold between November and May 11 upon learning that these vehicles used a defeat device during emissions testing, according to Xinhua news agency as per Financial Express.
According to the investigation, the Japanese car company used a defeat device to decrease the amount of nitrogen oxide released during the emissions test. The device, also known as exhaust gas re-circulation, is made to stop emissions when the engine heats up to more than 35 degrees Celsius, thereby affecting the emissions test.
The allegation was denied by the Nissan during a hearing that was held on May 26. The Japanese automaker said that the device function was not made to obscure emissions testing but to protect car engines from the effects of overheating. The ministry then replied that 35 degrees temperature is suited for general driving conditions.
Global Times reports that the alleged emissions fabrication was based after the emissions scandal that transpired in 2015 involving the German carmaker, Volkswagen. The ministry imposed Nissan with $286,000 in fines for the alleged emissions scandal, while Nissan's head, Takehiko Kikuchi, received a criminal lawsuit from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.
Details of the emissions scandal was reported by Arirang News, which stated that numbers of Qashqai SUV owners in Korea are about to file a class-action lawsuit to the Japanese auto giant.
