BMW settles with NHTSA over MINI recall

BMW has admitted to failing to responded to a safety defect in its MINI line of vehicles in a timely manner and will pay a $10 million fine to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as the result of its non-compliance.

BMW’s Consent Order with the NHTSA stems from a failed September crash test of the MINI Cooper Hardtop S. Although the standard version of the hatchback passed the government’s crash tests, the sportier S model failed the side-impact portion of the NHTSA’s safety evaluation.

The MINI Cooper Hardtop was recalled for the same issue in December of 2014, prompting the NHTSA’s investigation for non-compliance.

As part of the settlement, BMW will pay a $10 million fine to the NHTSA and also spend another $10 million to improve its internal processes and technologies for detecting possible safety issues. BMW must also put up another $20 million in abeyance until the NHTSA is satisfied that the company has completed its Consent Order. The settlement also includes an admission of guilt on BMW’s part.

The Consent Order will remain in place for the next two-years, with the NHTSA holding the option to extend it by an additional year.