Ford Faces the Roadblock: A Costly Fine on the Horizon

Ford, the 6th biggest automobile company in the world, has hit a curb due to quality-control concerns.

Ford Motor Company is currently facing the second-largest auto penalty by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration due to many complaints concerning the rollover safety cameras in its F-150 trucks and Explorer SUVs. 

This penalty comes three years before the investigation opened after Ford delayed responding to the defective camera systems in 2022. Approximately 600,000 vehicles were reported after the customers stated their cameras showed a blank screen. 

Unfortunately, Ford failed to immediately report this common problem to the agency, jeopardizing the company. The company did not provide correct and sufficient information. The penalty caused them to pay the price of their imprudence, $165 million. 

According to Maria Buczkowski, Ford's quality communications manager, this issue did not cause injuries or fatalities.  

Ford must pay $65 million upfront out of $165 million, with an additional $55 million contingent on its compliance with the terms of a consent order over the next three years. The remaining $45 million will be invested in advanced data tools and a new testing facility for rearview camera components. 

After this inauspicious event, Ford stated its ambition to learn from the camera recall and its dedication to following the law.