Triumph Motorcycles has been fined $2.9 million by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the government agency responsible for ensuring automotive safety. The fine is the result of being late on submitting safety-related documents to the agency and violating the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (NTMVSA).

Last year, Triumph Motorcycles discovered a safety issue with 1,300 of its bikes and was late to report the problem to the NHTSA. The NHTSA launched an investigation and discovered other violations, such as not supplying warranty data. NHTSA officials have claimed the fine is justified because it expects automakers to quickly respond to and report possible safety defects. Triumph Motorcycles is expected to use $500,000 to improve its safety practices, including creating a position within the company that would oversee new safety protocols.

The defect responsible for the fine could cripple steering for 1,300 of its motorcycles, increasing the risk of a motorcycle accident. According to the NHTSA, Triumph Motorcycles did not report the defect for more than a year. If the company has further safety violations, it could face an additional $1 million in penalties.

More Information on Motorcycle Defects and the NHTSA

The NTMVSA was passed in 1966, and when the NHTSA was created in 1970, it allowed the organization to set vehicle safety standards. As a regulatory agency, the NHTSA has the power to require manufacturers to issue recalls and promptly report defects. When manufacturers fail to report defects, not only can people be injured or lose their lives, the companies responsible could face both lawsuits and hefty fines.

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