Carmaker fined $16.4m for failing to notify Federal regulators about accelerator pedal defects, the Washington Post reports
If it wasn’t for a statutory cap, Toyota would be fined $13.8bn for failing to notify Federal regulators about accelerator pedal defects, reported the Washington Post.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced they are seeking to fine the carmaker only a small fraction of that amount, $16.4m, which is the highest possible penalty they can seek under the law, said the paper.
"The gravity of Toyota's apparent violations is severe and potentially life-threatening," NHTSA chief counsel Kevin Vincent told Toyota in a letter. "The result of these decisions by Toyota was to expose millions of American drivers, passengers and pedestrians to the dangers of driving with a defective accelerator pedal."
Under the law, the penalty for failing to notify regulators of a safety defect is $6,000 a car. Toyota had to recall 2.3m cars for the sticky pedal.
Reforms are being proposed to lift the limit as a result of the Toyota controversy.
