The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has filed a civil complaint in a Detroit federal court against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) US alleging the manufacturer had cheated in emissions tests.

The DoJ said it had filed the complaint on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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Specifically, the DoJ said nearly 104,000 light duty diesel vehicles containing 3.0 litre EcoDiesel engines were equipped with software functions not disclosed to regulators during the certification application process, and that the vehicles contain defeat devices.

The complaint alleged that the undisclosed software functions cause the vehicles’ emission control systems to perform differently, and less effectively, during certain normal driving conditions than on federal emission tests, resulting in increased emissions of harmful air pollutants.

The vehicles in question were Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee models sold between 2014 and 2016 in the US, which the DoJ said contained ‘at least eight software-based features that were not disclosed in FCA’s applications for certificates of conformity and that affect the vehicles’ emission control systems.’

The civil complaint filed seeks injunctive relief and the assessment of civil penalties.

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Responding to the complaint, FCA US said it had been working with the EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for many months, including extensive testing of the vehicles, to clarify issues related to the company’s emissions control technology in the 2014-2016 Jeep  Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles.

It said: “FCA US is currently reviewing the complaint, but is disappointed that the DOJ has chosen to file this lawsuit. The company intends to defend itself vigorously, particularly against any claims that the company engaged in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat U.S. emissions tests.”

In addition, the company revealed that it had developed updated emissions software calibrations that it believes address the concerns of EPA, and has now formally filed for diesel vehicle emissions certification with the regulators for its 2017 model Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles.

Subject to the permission of EPA and CARB, FCA US said it intended to install the same modified emissions software in 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles. FCA US believes this will address the agencies’ concerns regarding the emissions software calibrations in those vehicles.

So called ‘defeat devices’ and diesel emissions have been under the microscope since Volkswagen admitted using them in the US in 2015.