Cummins is essentially begging truck owners to update their emissions software to avoid new fines

Convincing a pickup truck driver to visit their local dealer is already a challenge, but convincing diesel owners to get an emissions software update they already hate? It’s even more difficult. However, the EPA is forcing Cummins to take on the task. The result is a massive campaign with stimulating owner reviews, paid advertising on multiple social media platforms, free extended warranties and, yes, even some goodie bags to sweeten the deal.

You may remember the massive $2 billion settlement between the EPA and Cummins last year. We’ve covered this in detail, detailing how the federal government accused the engine manufacturer of violating the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Protection Agency says Cummins installed auxiliary emissions control devices on approximately 630,000 Ram trucks built between the 2013 and 2019 model years, adding that the OEM also failed to disclose auxiliary emissions control devices on an additional 330,000 2020 Ram pickups. -2023 release. As part of the settlement, the EPA required Cummins to update the emissions software on 85 percent of the affected trucks within three years or face even more fines.

Subscribe to Drive Daily

Get the latest car news, reviews and features.

Clearly Cummins doesn’t want that. It has already paid the largest civil fine ever imposed under the Clean Air Act. That’s why the company is doing everything it can to get owners to contact Ram dealers for what’s known as the 67A emissions recall on 2013-2018 Ram HD trucks with 6.7-liter engines. (It appears that 2019 Rams with Cummins are already being considered as part of the VB6 emissions recall.)

Cummins says the software update takes only an hour and assures owners that it does not require any hardware changes. He’s also put together an entire FAQ video with powertrain development chief Brad Sutton, who explains that engine performance shouldn’t be affected. What’s more, Sutton says fuel economy doesn’t change much depending on the year of your truck. Drivers who frequently tow or haul large loads on the highway probably shouldn’t notice a decrease in mpg.

What an update does The change, however, is the amount of diesel exhaust fluid the truck consumes. I’m pretty sure I just heard every stock Cummins driver sigh because the last thing they want to buy is more DEF. Cummins says this is not a significant increase because the update only changes fluid dosage under certain conditions. DEF use “can account for less than 1.5 percent of fuel consumption” when driving an empty or lightly loaded vehicle, while heavily loaded trucks can consume up to 2.5 percent.

This is where an owner’s review comes in handy. Cummins filmed a video with Tyler Dawson, a heavy equipment operator who uses his Ram 3500 in two modes (manual shift!) every day. He admits he was skeptical about the upgrade, but by the end of the video he’s pulling a 17,000-pound trailer with a pile of hay up a steep hill to show it’s still going strong. It touches on some current issues, and I actually think it’s as organic as being a paid witness can get.

Cummins offers an extended warranty on all eligible emissions components to owners who receive the upgrade. They have two options: 10 years/120,000 miles from the date of entry into service or 4 years/48,000 miles from the date of recall. This means that if a DEF injector requires replacement on a million-mile truck within four years or 48,000 miles of a software update, Cummins will perform the repair free of charge. And even if an owner paid out-of-pocket for recall repairs that they thought should have been covered by the extended warranty, they can submit a claim to Cummins for evaluation and potential coverage after the fact.

By far the most fun incentive to lure owners to dealers is the “while supplies last” promise of these 6.7L Cummins bags. They have a hat and pen that says “6.7 Forever” and stickers with corny phrases like “Keep Calm and Cummins On” and “Powered by 6.7L and Coffee.” Anyone who has upgraded at their dealer can return to the Cummins website to claim their gifts, but only until supplies last. This is…really something.

All jokes aside, this is serious business for Cummins. It’s not easy to twist the arm of every prickly pickup truck owner who doesn’t want to deal with exhaust equipment anyway. And frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the remaining 15 percent of affected trucks have already had their particulate filters and other equipment removed.

There is a lot at stake in getting these repairs done, and quickly. Let’s hope all this is enough.

Do you have any advice or questions for the author? Contact them directly: [email protected]