Ford Motor Co. will pay a penalty of up to 165 million to the U.S. government for moving too slowly on a recall and failing to give accurate recall information.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in a statement Thursday that the civil penalty is the second-largest in its 54-year history. Only the fine Takata paid for faulty air bag inflators was higher.
The agency says Ford was too slow to recall vehicles with faulty rearview cameras, and it failed to give the agency complete information, which is required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Ford agreed to a consent order with the agency that includes a payment of 65 million, and 45 million in spending to comply with the law. Another 55 million will be deferred.
"Timely and accurate recalls are critical to keeping everyone safe on our roads," NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said in the statement. "When manufacturers fail to prioritize the safety of the American public and meet their obligations under federal law, NHTSA will hold them accountable."
