Navistarâs MaxxForceThree trucking companies have filed lawsuits against truck and engine maker Navistar International claiming its 2011 and 2012 MaxxForce engines were defective and didnât meet federal 2010 emissions standards. The lawsuits further allege Navistar knew its engines were flawed yet concealed that information from truck buyers.
Dallas, Texas-based law firm Miller Weisbrod announced the litigation July 8, saying it is representing the Texas-based Americorp Xpress Carriers, Tennessee-based First Express and Washington-based Floyd Blinksy Trucking.
Navistar spokesperson Elissa Mauer said the company does not comment on pending litigation.
The complaints against Navistar, maker of International trucks, stem from the manufacturerâs reliance on exhaust gas recirculation to try to meet federal emissions standards, according to the suit filed by Americorp.
The EGR systems on Navistarâs proprietary MaxxForce engines reduced engine efficiency, caused them to overheat and produced an excessive amount of soot inside the engines, the lawsuits claim, and the 15 MaxxForce-powered International trucks Americorp bought in 2011 had to be taken to the shop for repairs more than 100 separate times, the carrier says.
The downtime and repair costs run counter to Navistarâs assurance to Americorp that the trucks âwere in perfect working order and without defectsâ at the time of purchase, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit notes Navistar was the only North American engine maker to not use a combination of EGR and selective catalytic reduction to meet 2010 standards, a position Navistar used to market its trucks as having the âlowest cost of ownership,â per the lawsuit.
Americorp and the other carrier say the engines cost them loss of profits; downtime expenses and losses; diminished resale value; out-of-pocket repair expenses; fuel expenses incurred in excess of represented amounts; towing expenses, lodging expenses for drivers; rental car expenses; unreimbursed driver downtime; loss of revenue; and other damages.
The problems experienced with the engines included repeated illumination of the check engine lights, engine derating, EGR system failures, fuel pump failures, a/c blower and compressor failures, clogged hoses and connections and premature wear.
The carriers also claim Navistar knew about the alleged defects in its engines, as it had performed thousands of hours of simulated testing. âUpon information and belief, defendants were able to accurately predict the exact types of problems that would occur with MaxxForce engines,â the lawsuit says.
The engines also did not meet the 0.2g NOx threshold required by the Environmental Protection Agency, the lawsuits allege, and Navistar hid that from the public and from consumers, the carriers claim.
The lawsuitsâ charges against Navistar include:
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Breach of express warranty and breach of implied warranty, for telling carriers the trucks âwere of a particular quality when, in fact, they were not,â the suit claims
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Breach of contract
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Fraud, for âknowingly making false representationsâ about the trucksâ âperformance capabilities, fuel economy, the effectiveness and durability of the trucksâ EGR system, the trucksâ overall fitness for use and the 2010 EPA emissions certificationâ
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Fraud by nondisclosure
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Violation of deceptive trade practices
The companies are seeking all actual and economic damages (listed above) from the allegedly defective engines, attorneyâs fees and interest and other relief.
They also want the case to be decided by a jury.
In late 2012, Navistar announced it would be transitioning away from its EGR-only approach and adding SCR systems to its 11- and 13-liter engines. It cut production of its 15-liter engine entirely and now offers Cummins ISX15 as its 15-liter option.
The companyâs bottom line has also taken a hit from warranty claims from its 2010-2012 engines, reporting net losses of $898 million in 2013 and $3 billion in 2014.
