The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) as we speak introduced that it has made its first-ever whistleblower award. The award is the utmost share of the $81 million in money it collected from Hyundai and Kia allowed by legislation.

The protection regulator mentioned that it’s awarding $24 million to an ex-Hyundai engineer who supplied info associated to a security defect in Hyundai and Kia engines. NHTSA issued Consent Orders with the businesses in November 2020 when it decided that they’d performed premature remembers of over 1.6 million autos outfitted with Theta II engines.

The mixed penalties within the Consent Orders amounted to $210 million, $81 million of which was paid in money to the U.S. authorities. By statute, NHTSA could pay a most of 30 p.c of collected monies to a whistleblower discovered to contribute vital info that ends in penalties of greater than $1 million.

Learn Additionally: Hyundai And Kia To Pay Tens of millions In Penalties Over Gradual Engine Recollects

“Whistleblowers play a vital position in bringing info to NHTSA about severe security issues which might be hidden from the company,” mentioned Dr. Steven Cliff, NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator. “This info is important to public security and we’re dedicated to rewarding those that deliver info to us.”

Theta II four-cylinder engines associated to this case have been present in 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport in addition to the 2011-2014 Kia Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento, and 2011-2013 Sportage.

Former Hyundai engineer Kim Gwang-ho was the whistleblower in query who reported to NHTSA in 2016 that the corporate was failing to handle a design flaw linked to the engines that made them susceptible to seizing and even catching fireplace.

“I’m happy that I’ve been justly compensated for the dangers I took to guard homeowners of those faulty vehicles, and grateful that the U.S.’s authorized system had a program in place to make this potential,” Kim mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday. “I hope my reporting results in actual security enhancements, each at Hyundai and all through the trade.”

The award is the primary beneath the U.S. Motor Car Security Whistleblower Act, which was handed by Congress in 2015, reviews Reuters.

Need To Blow Your Personal Whistle? Right here’s How

These trying to blow the whistle can get in contact with NHTSA by contacting NHTSAWhistleblower@dot.gov or by means of the company’s hotline at 888-327-4236. It has additionally arrange an internet site to assist these with info.