The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Ford's inaction failed to "prioritize the safety of the American public."

Ford has agreed to pay a $165 million penalty to federal regulators after moving too slowly to recall vehicles with faulty rearview cameras. This is the second largest fine the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has handed out in its 54-year history,

The regulator faulted the automaker for not recalling cars with defective rearview cameras quickly enough and for providing incomplete and inaccurate information.

Ford has agreed to pay a fine that could go up to $165 million after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found the automaker took too long to recall vehicles with faulty rearview cameras and failed to “provide accurate and complete recall information.

Ford Motor Co. agreed to a $165 million civil penalty to settle allegations the company failed to recall cars with defective rearview cameras in a timely manner, the second largest fine ever levied by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ford (NYSE:F) ran into more issues with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) and was hit with a $165M fine after the regulator found that the company delayed a recall of more than 620K vehicles and gave consumers inaccurate information regarding a faulty rear camera.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday Ford Motor has agreed to a $165 million civil penalty after a government investigation found the automaker failed to recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras in a timely manner.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has fined Ford Motor Company $165 million over issues with a reverse camera recall. It's the second-largest civil consent penalty in NHTSA history.

NHTSA is requiring Ford to review all of its recalls in the past three years to ensure they went far enough. (BLOOMBERG)