Ford has agreed to pay $165m civil penalty following a US government investigation that concluded the company failed to recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the penalty, which includes a three-year consent order.
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Under the agreement, Ford will pay $65m in cash, invest $45m in data analytics and testing, and hold an additional $55m in reserve for pending compliances.
The NHTSA, in August 2021, initiated an investigation to determine if Ford had timely recalled 620,246 vehicles in 2020 for a rear camera issue.
Ford later expanded this recall in 2022, adding approximately 24,000 vehicles in March.
The NHTSA found that Ford had provided inaccurate or incomplete information, failed to submit quarterly reports for other recalls on time, and did not fully comply with the public availability of vehicle recall information.
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By GlobalDataDespite the findings, Ford stated it disagreed with the NHTSA’s assessment but expressed its pleasure in resolving the investigation.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to “continuously improving safety and compliance at Ford.”
As part of the consent order, Ford is required to conduct an extensive review of all recalls filed in the past three years and file new recalls if necessary.
An independent third party will oversee and make recommendations on all performance obligations under the consent order and assess Ford’s compliance.
Ford is also mandated to hold quarterly meetings with the NHTSA, develop safety data analytics, construct an imaging test lab focusing on low-voltage electronics, and invest in a vehicle identification number-based traceability system to monitor components at the individual vehicle level.
