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Cobb Tuning, a well-known performance tuning brand, has reached a settlement with the United States Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following allegations of violating the Clean Air Act. Cobb is among several tuning companies that have faced scrutiny for producing “defeat devices,” which have led to the shutdown of several large aftermarket parts manufacturers and retailers. Fortunately for Cobb, the company is expected to continue its operations and sell tuning products.
On Monday, the EPA announced the settlement, which Cobb elaborated on the following day. The company, known for its performance tunes and the popular Accessport ECU tool, was found to have sold over 90,000 “defeat devices” that bypassed or disabled emissions controls since January 2015. As part of the settlement, Cobb has been fined $2.9 million in civil penalties, determined by the company’s limited financial capability, and is ordered by the EPA to stop the manufacture and sale of these devices.
According to the settlement, Cobb is required to discontinue any products that violate or enable violations of the Clean Air Act, although the company contends it has already taken such measures. Cobb must halt the sales and support of products that deactivate or bypass emissions controls and destroy any existing inventory that falls within this category. Additionally, the company is obligated to inform customers and provide retraining for employees and affiliates.
Cobb describes the announcement as a “formality,” stating that it has already implemented many of the required changes for some time. Since at least April 2022, Cobb has been adjusting its tuning software to remain compliant. The company plans to continue offering tuning modules and asserts that it has provided documentation to the EPA confirming that it secured California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Orders or other third-party emissions certifications, ensuring that its full product line, including those mentioned in the EPA complaint, adheres to emissions standards and the Clean Air Act.
Cobb is not exiting the market, and independent tuners will keep utilizing its products to enhance vehicle performance. Achieving CARB certifications is challenging, but Cobb is taking necessary steps, similar to other companies that have navigated federal penalties. While the government is not targeting manual boost controllers, those selling high volumes of cat deletes may find themselves under scrutiny.
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