Daimler agrees to $20 million settlement over U.S. vehicle recalls

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz USA has agreed to a $20 million civil penalty over its handling of U.S. vehicle recalls after a year-long U.S. government investigation into 1.4 million recalled vehicles

Reuters December 19, 2019 00:06:54 IST
Daimler agrees to $20 million settlement over U.S. vehicle recalls

Daimler agrees to 20 million settlement over US vehicle recalls

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz USA has agreed to a $20 million civil penalty over its handling of U.S. vehicle recalls after a year-long U.S. government investigation into 1.4 million recalled vehicles.

Under the terms of the settlement, the German automaker will pay $13 million and faces another $7 million fine if it does not comply with the agreement. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Daimler failed to notify owners in a timely fashion in some recalls, did not submit all reports and did not launch at least two recalls in a timely fashion.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) said in a statement "we believe that we did not deliberately do anything wrong, but unfortunately we missed some deadlines in informing the agency of the measures we had taken in fulfilling their requirements." It added the company "agreed to resolve this matter in an effort to answer NHTSA’s questions and move forward."

The automaker will meet with NHTSA on a quarterly basis to discuss its recall performance for at least a year. The automaker is "currently developing more robust procedures with regard to reporting noncompliance concerns."

NHTSA said it had taken into account "the substantial financial investment that MBUSA has made in the development and rollout of its automated recall management tool, as well as the hiring of additional personnel and ongoing trainings."

NHTSA had also raised concerns about "recurring and unannounced failures" in the automaker's data system in supplying information to the agency's Vehicle Identification Number lookup tool that allows owners to check to see if their vehicle has been recalled.

"The agency’s reporting requirements help ensure that consumers are protected and given important information about how to get recalls repaired,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator James Owens in a statement. "We expect manufacturers to follow their legal obligations to the agency and to consumers in carrying out safety recalls."

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Franklin Paul and Steve Orlofsky)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Updated Date:

TAGS:

also read

South Korean woman linked to scandal to be extradited from Denmark - prosecutor
| Reuters
World

South Korean woman linked to scandal to be extradited from Denmark - prosecutor | Reuters

COPENHAGEN A South Korean woman wanted for questioning in connection with the scandal that brought down president Park Geun-hye has withdrawn her appeal against extradition from Denmark, the Danish state prosecutor said on Wednesday.

Pope asks Trump to be peacemaker, gives him environmental letter
| Reuters
World

Pope asks Trump to be peacemaker, gives him environmental letter | Reuters

By Philip Pullella and Steve Holland | VATICAN CITY VATICAN CITY Pope Francis urged U.S.