Porsche Gasoline Settlement: What You Need to Know and How to Claim Your Compensation

Porsche, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, has agreed to pay at least $80 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accused the automaker of falsifying the fuel economy and emissions ratings of more than 500,000 gasoline vehicles sold or leased in the United States. The settlement covers various Porsche models from 2005 to 2022, including the 911, Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne, Macan, and Panamera. If you are a current or former owner or lessee of one of these vehicles, you may be eligible for a cash payment ranging from $200 to $1,100, depending on the vehicle and your ownership status. In this blog post, I will explain the details of the Porsche gasoline settlement, how it affects you, and how you can claim your compensation.

The Background of the Porsche Gasoline Settlement

The Porsche gasoline settlement is the result of a lawsuit filed by a group of Porsche owners in 2019. The lawsuit alleged that Porsche manipulated the software and hardware of certain gasoline vehicles to make them appear more fuel-efficient and less polluting than they actually were. The lawsuit claimed that Porsche violated the Clean Air Act, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and various state laws by deceiving consumers and regulators about the performance and environmental impact of its vehicles.

The lawsuit was similar to the infamous Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal that erupted in 2015, when Volkswagen admitted that it installed “defeat devices” on millions of diesel vehicles worldwide to cheat emissions tests. Volkswagen agreed to pay more than $20 billion in fines and settlements in the U.S. alone.

Porsche denied the allegations and maintained that its gasoline vehicles complied with all applicable laws and regulations. However, in June 2022, Porsche agreed to settle the lawsuit without admitting any wrongdoing. The settlement was preliminarily approved by a federal judge in August 2022 and received final approval in October 2022.

The Benefits of the Porsche Gasoline Settlement

The Porsche gasoline settlement provides several benefits for eligible owners and lessees of affected vehicles. These benefits include:

Cash payments: The settlement offers cash payments ranging from $200 to $1,100 for original and sole owners of affected vehicles, depending on the model and model year. Former owners, lessees, and non-original owners may also receive lower payments based on their ownership duration and status. Additionally, owners of vehicles with Sport+ mode that are subject to an ongoing emissions recall may receive an extra $250 for completing the recall.
Updated labels: The settlement requires Porsche to update the fuel economy labels (also known as Monroney labels) of affected vehicles to reflect more accurate information. The updated labels will show lower fuel economy ratings than the original labels. Owners who receive updated labels will also receive higher cash payments based on the difference in fuel economy.
Environmental mitigation: The settlement requires Porsche to pay $5 million to an environmental trust fund that will support projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources in California. The settlement also requires Porsche to implement measures to ensure compliance with emissions standards and testing procedures for its future vehicles.

The Eligibility and Process of the Porsche Gasoline Settlement

To be eligible for the Porsche gasoline settlement, you must meet the following criteria:

You must be a current or former owner or lessee of one of the affected vehicles listed on the official settlement website.
You must have purchased or leased your vehicle in the U.S. or its territories.
You must have owned or leased your vehicle on or before June 23, 2022 (the date of the settlement agreement).

To claim your compensation under the Porsche gasoline settlement, you must follow these steps:

Visit the official settlement website or call 1-844-924-0851.
Fill out an online claim form or request a paper claim form by mail.
Provide proof of ownership or lease, such as a title, registration, bill of sale, lease agreement, etc.
Submit your claim form and supporting documents by December 7, 2022 (the deadline for filing claims).

You can also check your eligibility and estimate your compensation using an online benefit calculator on the settlement website. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions and other important documents on the website.

The Conclusion of the Porsche Gasoline Settlement

The Porsche gasoline settlement is a significant development for owners and lessees of affected vehicles who may have been misled by Porsche’s fuel economy and emissions claims. The settlement offers substantial cash payments, updated labels, and environmental mitigation for eligible consumers. If you are one of them, you should act quickly and file your claim before the deadline. You can also contact a lawyer if you have any questions or concerns about your rights and options under the settlement.