The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Thursday that Ford Motor Co. will be fined $165 million in civil fines after a government investigation found that the company failed to timely recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras. announced that they had agreed.
Under the consent order, which will last at least three years, the second-largest U.S. automaker must pay $65 million in cash, spend $45 million on advanced data analytics, new testing facilities and other projects, and $55 million. will be withheld conditionally. Comply with the agreement.
The fine is the second largest in the agency's history.
After Ford recalled 620,246 vehicles in 2020 due to rear camera issues, NHTSA launched an investigation in August 2021 to determine whether the automaker recalled vehicles in a timely manner.
Ford expanded its recall in 2022, adding about 24,000 vehicles in March.
NHTSA said Ford provided inaccurate or incomplete information, did not submit timely quarterly reports for other recalls, and was not fully compliant in disclosing vehicle recall information.
Ford said it disagrees with NHTSA's assessment.
Ford said it is pleased the investigation has been resolved and remains “committed to continually improving safety and compliance at Ford.”
Ford must thoroughly investigate all recalls filed in the past three years and file new recalls if necessary.
NHTSA said an independent third party will oversee and recommend all performance obligations and evaluate the company's compliance with the consent order.
The order requires Ford to meet quarterly with NHTSA to develop safety data analysis.
Ford also needs to build an imaging test lab focused on low-voltage electronics and invest in a vehicle identification number-based traceability system to track parts at the individual vehicle level.
NHTSA is asking Ford to “review its recall decision-making process and make any necessary changes, including its ability to analyze data to identify safety-related defects and nonconformities.”
