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

Ford Motor Co. will pay a penalty of up to $165 million to the U.S. government for moving too slowly on a recall and failing to give accurate recall information.

Ford Motor Co. will be forced to pay the second largest civil penalty by an automaker after the federal government said the company did not act fast enough to issue a recall over faulty rearview cameras.