US ends Honda probe for failing to report deaths, injuries

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government has closed an investigation into Honda's failure to report deaths and injuries, saying that the company has met all of its obligations.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted on its website today that Honda paid a $70 million fine and took steps needed to make sure similar failures don't happen again.

The government fined Honda in December of 2014 in what then was the largest civil penalty levied against an automaker.

The company admitted in a consent order that it didn't report 1,729 complaints that its vehicles caused deaths and injuries, and that it didn't report warranty claims. Many of the deaths and injuries were related to air bag inflators made by Takata Corp.

The Japanese automaker acknowledged in November 2014 that it failed to make legally required reports during an 11-year period beginning in 2003. The company admitted it learned of the omissions in 2011 but waited three years to take action.