Washington – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will meet Thursday to address its concern that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has not met recall requirements for about 10 million vehicles.
The automaker could be charged with a civil penalty that could reach $35 million over the recall issue, according to an NHTSA document. The company said it will comment on Thursday.
Thursday’s hearing will address two questions: whether the company repaired vehicles adequately and fast enough, and whether the company notified both vehicle owners and NHTSA quickly enough.
“The agency has made a tentative determination that in 23 different recalls Fiat Chrysler has violated some provision of the Safety Act,” said NHTSA spokesman Gordon Trowbridge. “Tomorrow is part of our information gathering process so that we can make a final determination.”
At least 23 recalls covering more than 10 million vehicles will be considered during the hearing. Three of the recalls involve about 1 million Dodge Ram pickup trucks and cab chassis vehicles. The recall notices went out in November 2013, but many vehicles still haven’t been repaired because the company failed to produce sufficient replacement parts, according to the transportation agency.
In response to a NHTSA special order on May 18, the automaker acknowledged not notifying vehicle owners in a timely way about certain recalls.
Based on information presented at the public hearing, NHTSA may issue an order that require Fiat Chrysler to comply with the Safety Act, including a civil penalty of not more than $7,000 for each motor vehicle and each failure to perform a required act.
“Manufacturers of vehicles and equipment are required to let us and the vehicles owners know if they are aware of a safety defect, and they are also required to provide a remedy for that safety defect in a reasonable amount of time,” Trowbridge said.
Fiat Chrysler issued a recall of approximately 7,700 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs Sunday for potential braking and other problems, asking owners of the 65 vehicles to immediately stop driving them.
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