Dealership slapped with $40k fine after using illegal trick because it was ‘easier than replacing car sensors’

THE Department of Justice announced a court fined a dealership nearly $40,000 after installing illegal delete devices.

The certified Ford dealership in Nebraska is also facing a one-year term of probation.

Getty

Getty

Moody Motor Company, a Ford dealership in Niobrara, Nebraska , has been fined $39,741.95 and sentenced to a one-year probation for its role in circumventing federal emissions regulations.

The sentencing, handed down on July 31, 2024, also included a $125 special assessment.

The U.S. Department of Justice, or DOJ, revealed in a statement that Moody Motor was found guilty as an accessory after the fact to a Clean Air Act violation.

The Clean Air Act is a federal law that regulates emissions in dozens of products, including motor vehicles.

Its impact on passenger cars includes stringent exhaust standards, including emissions-mitigating devices.

The DOJ argued that Moody Motor fixed vehicles with emissions systems that didn’t meet federal requirements.

Investigations into the dealership stem from allegations from another company.

The DOJ’s search was triggered by a previous look into Diesel Performance Texas, or DPTX.

DPTX is a Dallas-based company known for selling tuners and delete kits.

The Criminal Investigations Division of the Environmental Protection Agency opened an investigation into the company in January 2022.

The DOJ’s statement didn’t include any update on the DPTX investigation.

DPTX’s products were designed to bypass vehicle exhaust systems legally mandated by the Clean Air Act, the DOJ said.

These modifications, which involved disabling emission control systems, were installed on several vehicles.

The aftermarket work included installing delete devices and tuning vehicles to run without mandated emissions controls.

DOJ officials spoke to several employees at Moody Motors during their investigation.

Dealership Tips

Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:

• 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
• 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
• 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
• 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
• 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

The DOJ said employees said they implemented the fixes on used trucks that needed several new sensors.

The employees estimated they installed the devices in “10-20  vehicles.”

Using the illegal exhaust system was “easier than replacing the sensors,” the DOJ said in the statement .

“The owner of the truck was contacted and agreed to bring the truck in to be inspected by EPA-CID,” the DOJ added in the statement.

“[The inspection] confirmed that the emissions control system had been illegally modified and the invoice reflected that the delete tune had been purchased from DPTX.”

DPTX supplied Moody with 14 kits, the DOJ argued in court.

The dealership didn’t immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.