DETROIT (WWJ/AP) – BMW has agreed to pay $3 million for delays in reporting safety defects and recalls to the government.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said an examination of 16 recalls issued by BMW North America in 2010 found evidence of a number of instances in which the automaker failed to report safety defects and recalls to the agency in accordance with federal law.

Automakers are required to report known defects within five days. As part of the settlement, BMW agreed to make internal changes to its recall process.

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