The US government’s road safety agency has paid more than $24m (€21m) to a whistleblower who reported that Hyundai and Kia moved too slowly to recall over one million vehicles with engines that could freeze up or catch fire.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the award is the first it has paid to a whistleblower.

It is also the maximum percentage allowed by law of penalties paid by the Korean automakers.

In November of 2020, the agency announced that Hyundai and Kia would pay $137m (€118m) in fines and for safety improvements in an agreement to fix the engine problems.

The announcement resolved a three-year government probe into the companies’ behaviour involving recalls of multiple models since the 2011 model year.

Hyundai had to pay $54m (€47m) in civil penalties and invest $40m (€35m) to improve safety operations. The penalties from both automakers totaled $81m (€70m).