volkswagen

As part of the nationwide settlement over false emissions claims involving several Volkswagen and Audi TDIclean diesel vehicles, thousands of Washington state residents will be getting either $1,100 reimbursement checks, or could even have the company buy back their vehicle.

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson confirmed heading into the weekend his office is conducting an investigation into reports of alleged fraud by Volkswagen, concerning special "chips" placed in cars that allowed them to bypass EPA emissions standards in favor of performance in a number of their diesel-powered cars.

Hundreds of thousands of recall letters have been going out from the German auto maker, after the EPA has accused them of 'cheating' with computer software designed to end-run emissions standards.