You may remember those 5.4 million Hondas and Acuras that were part of that massive 2014 recall. You know, the ones that had to have their air bags replaced so that they wouldn't send deadly shrapnel flying through your skull if they ever deployed.
Well today Honda was slapped with a record $70 million fine from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for failing to report 1,729 complaints that its vehicles caused deaths and injuries, and for failing to report warranty claims.
The fines, actually two separate $35 million fines, were due to Honda failing to submit early warning reports "identifying potential or actual safety issues" between 2003 and 2014.
From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
Federal law requires manufacturers to submit comprehensive EWR reports of potential safety concerns to the Department. These quarterly reports include production information; incidents involving a death or injury; aggregate data on property damage claims, consumer complaints, warranty claims, and field reports; and, copies of field reports involving specified vehicle components, a fire, or a rollover. The data are then used to investigate whether safety defects or defect trends exist and warrant further action, including possible recalls.
Officials told The Associated Press that Honda has agreed to shell out the money for the fine. The fine amount is the maximum fine allowed by federal law.
[Via Jalopnik]
