The Detroit News reports that Ford Motor has paid a $17.35 million fine to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) due to a recall issue.
Following NHTSA’s investigation, Ford had recalled about 423,000 2001-2004 Ford Escapes and Mazda Tributes in July 2012 because the gas pedal could remain depressed even after a driver removed their foot from the pedal.
NHTAS fined the automaker because it did not notify customers of a defect in a timely manner. NHTSA said it did not know how long Ford may have known about a potential problem before the investigation, according to the news report.
“We are absolutely committed to addressing potential vehicle issues and responding quickly for our customers,” Ford said in an emailed statement. “We take the safety of our customers seriously and continuously evaluate our processes for improvements. While we are confident in our current processes for quickly identifying and addressing potential vehicle issues, Ford agreed to this settlement to avoid a lengthy dispute with the government.”
The $17.35 million fine is the maximum allowed and fines received are paid into the general fund of the U.S. Treasury. Ford paid the fine July 26.
Source: The Detroit News
