A $165 million fine from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a sluggish recall—one of many in recent years—highlights flaws in the automaker's production safety record.

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

Ford Motor Company will pay up to $165 million in penalties after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined the automaker was too slow in recalling vehicles with faulty rearview cameras and failed to provide accurate recall information.