National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officials detailed a recent consent order with Daimler Trucks North America, including a $30 million civil penalty.
The NHTSA said the action follows an investigation determining the company failed to recall vehicles in a timely fashion and comply with other reporting requirements. The consent order includes monetary and non-monetary provisions designed to improve Daimler Trucks North America’s compliance with the law and enhance its safety practices.
“Safety is NHTSA’s top priority,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator James Owens said. “It’s critical that manufacturers appropriately recognize the urgency of their safety recall responsibilities and provide timely and candid information to the agency about all safety issues.”
In conjunction with the consent order, the NHTSA indicated Daimler Trucks North America would develop and implement an advanced data analytics program to enhance its ability to detect and investigate potential safety defects while also improving improve its IT systems to collect potential safety information from business units more effectively, and reporting that information accurately to NHTSA.
The company’s consent order with NHTSA is for two years, and NHTSA may extend it for an additional year if warranted. Daimler Trucks North America must make an upfront payment of $10 million, per the consent order, and spend an additional $5 million on specific projects to enhance safety. There is an additional $15 million deferred penalty that may become payable under specified circumstances.