NHTSA’s Automaker Fines Reach Historic Levels

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2014 imposed more than $126 million in civil penalties against automakers and their dealers – a figure exceeding the total amount the agency previously collected during its 43-year history.

NHTSA is a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Mark Rosekind, who was sworn in as the safety agency’s new head on Dec. 22, also advocates increasing the current $35 million limit on such fines for individual violations – a change that would require Congressional action.

NHTSA said its civil penalties in 2014 included the following:

Honda – $70,000,000, for failure to both submit early warning reports and warranty claims.

Gwinnett Place Nissan – $110,000, for failure to perform a recall remedy in new motor vehicles prior to sale and delivery.

Ferrari S.p.A. and Ferrari North America Inc. – $3,500,000, for failure to submit early warning reports.

Chapman Chevrolet LLC – $50,000, for failure to perform a recall remedy in new motor vehicles prior to sale and delivery.

Hyundai Motor America – $17,350,000, for failure to issue a recall in a timely manner.

General Motors Co. – $35,000,000, for failure to issue a recall in a timely manner.

General Motors Co. – $441,000, for failure to fully respond to a special order by the due date.

Prevost, a division of Volvo Group Canada Inc; Volvo Industrial de Mexico S.A. de C.V.; and Prevost Car (US) Inc. – $250,000, the second of six annual installments of a total of $1.5 million in civil penalties, for untimely recalls and untimely submission of early warning reports and technical service bulletins (TSBs).

Southern Honda Powersports (a/k/a Big Red Powersports LLC) – $25,000, the second of five annual installments of a total of $125, 000 in civil penalties, for the sale of unrepaired, recalled vehicles.