Recall of reversing cameras: deemed too slow, Ford receives a fine of US$165 million

Ford faces a fine of US$165 million, one of the largest imposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which ruled that the manufacturer had taken too long to act in the recall of cars with defective reversing cameras.

The US agency had launched an investigation into whether the automaker waited too long to recall 600,000 vehicles in 2020, after drivers reported that the cameras displayed a blank screen.

Ford would then have violated US federal regulations, requiring that automakers must notify immediately of any problem with a car, according to the NHTSA.

“Timely and accurate recalls are essential to keeping everyone safe on our roadways,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said in a statement Thursday.

The fine imposed on Ford is the second largest ever given by the American agency in its 54 years of existence.

The manufacturer will have to pay US$65 million upfront, then an additional US$55 million deferred and the remaining US$45 million to invest in data tools and a new test center.