The Obama administration has levied a $70 million fine against Honda for failing to report 1,729 complaints regarding car accident injuries and deaths to federal regulators between 2003 and 2014. During the same time period, Honda also failed to report warranty claims to safety regulators.
In November 2014, Honda acknowledged that the company failed to report the death and injury complaints to the NHTSA. According to Honda’s statement, the auto manufacturer became aware of the issue in 2011, yet they still waited another three years to take any action.
The NHTSA said that two fines were actually imposed, each totaling $35 million, which is the maximum allowable fines for these offenses. One fine is for failing to report the car accident injury and death complaints, and the other is for failing to report the warranty claims, which include numerous incidents associated with defective Takata airbags.
Auto manufacturers are required by federal law to submit death and injury complaints to safety regulators in order to identify safety defects that may potentially require a recall. By failing to adhere to these laws, Honda was placing the safety of their vehicle’s drivers at risk.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by a defective Honda vehicle, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages. Mickey Fine has more than 25 years of experience helping car accident victims in the Bakersfield area, and he’ll fight aggressively to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Please contact the Law Offices of Mickey Fine using the form at the right of the page or call (661) 333-3333 today to schedule your free car accident consultation. Mr. Fine serves clients in Bakersfield, California.