The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that the U.S. government filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday accusing Fiat Chrysler Automobiles of using software to bypass emission controls in 104,000 diesel vehicles sold since 2014. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that the U.S. Justice Department lawsuit is a procedural step that may up pressure on FCA and comes amid growing scrutiny of diesels by regulators. The lawsuit could help lead to a settlement, as in an earlier probe of Volkswagen that will cost VW up to $25-billion (U.S.), but that affected a much larger number of vehicles. VW admitted to cheating while FCA denies wrongdoing. FCA said Tuesday it was disappointed the Justice Department filed suit and would defend itself against claims "it engaged in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat U.S. emissions tests." The lawsuit also names FCA's unit VM Motori, which designed the engine in question. The lawsuit asserts FCA placed undeclared "defeat devices," or auxiliary emissions controls, in 2014 and 2016 FCA diesel vehicles that led to "much higher" than allowable levels of nitrogen oxide, which is linked to smog formation and respiratory problems.