Ford pays 17.35 mln USD fine over late recall

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U.S. automaker Ford Motor Corporation has agreed to pay the top penalty of 17.35 million U.S. dollars because it did not notify customers of a defect in a timely manner, local media reported Thursday.

Last year, Ford recalled about 423,000 2001-2004 Ford Escapes and Mazda Tributes because the gas pedal could remain depressed even after a driver removed their foot from the pedal, which could cause crashes.

However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA) said Ford's recall "may have been untimely."

The NHTSA said Ford knew about the problem in May 2011, but failed to take action until the safety regulator began its investigation in July 2012.

By agreeing to the settlement, Ford is not released from any possible civil or criminal liabilities.

The 17.35 million dollars fine is the maximum safety regulators are allowed to levy against an automaker. Toyota Motor Corporation paid the maximum fine last year in a case which also involved a delayed safety recall.

• Ford recalls 409 vehicles in Chinese mainland
• New plant doubles Ford's engine capacity in China
• Three major U.S. automakers report increases in sales
• Call for auto recalls to be encouraged
• Renault to recall defective cars in China
• Ford recalls 6,500 vehicles for child safety lock

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