83_FR_16501 83 FR 16428 - General Motors, LLC, Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

83 FR 16428 - General Motors, LLC, Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 73 (April 16, 2018)

Page Range16428-16430
FR Document2018-07827

General Motors, LLC (GM), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2014-2016 GM motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds)or Less. GM filed a noncompliance Report dated December 6, 2016, and then amended their report on April 7, 2017. GM subsequently petitioned NHTSA on January 5, 2017, and later revised it on April 7, 2017, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 73 (Monday, April 16, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16428-16430]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07827]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2016-0140; Notice 2]


General Motors, LLC, Grant of Petition for Decision of 
Inconsequential Noncompliance

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Grant of petition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: General Motors, LLC (GM), has determined that certain model 
year (MY) 2014-2016 GM motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal 
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire Selection and Rims 
and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity 
Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 
pounds)or Less. GM filed a noncompliance Report dated December 6, 2016, 
and then amended their report on April 7, 2017. GM subsequently 
petitioned NHTSA on January 5, 2017, and later revised it on April 7, 
2017, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential 
as it relates to motor vehicle safety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kerrin Bressant, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA, telephone (202) 366-1110, facsimile (202) 
366-5930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Overview: GM has determined that certain MY 2014-2016 GM motor 
vehicles do not fully comply with paragraph S4.4.2(e) of FMVSS No. 110, 
Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load 
Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 
kilograms (10,000 pounds)or Less (49 CFR 571.110). GM filed a 
noncompliance report dated December 6, 2016, and then amended their 
report on April 7, 2017, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and 
Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports. GM subsequently petitioned 
NHTSA on January 5, 2017, and later revised it on April 7, 2017, 
pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h) and 49 CFR part 556, for an 
exemption from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
Chapter 301 on the basis that this noncompliance is inconsequential as 
it relates to motor vehicle safety.
    Notice of receipt of the petition was published, with a 30-day 
public comment period on May 11, 2017, in the Federal Register (82 FR 
22058). No comments were received. To view the petition and all 
supporting documents log onto the Federal Docket Management System 
(FDMS) web page at: http://www.regulations.gov/. Then follow the online 
search instruction to locate docket number ``NHTSA-2016-0140.''
    II. Vehicles Involved: Approximately 130,088 of the following MY 
2014-2016 GM motor vehicles manufactured between August 7, 2014, and 
June 15, 2015, are potentially involved:

 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade
 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV
 2015 Cadillac SRX
 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe
 2015-2016 GMC Yukon
 2015-2016 GMC Yukon XL
 2014-2015 GMC Sierra
 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado
 2015-2016 Chevrolet Suburban

    III. Noncompliance: GM explains that the noncompliance is that the 
subject vehicles are equipped with wheels supplied by Citic Dicastal 
Co. LTD (Dicastal) that are marked with unregistered date of 
manufacture marks that were not previously disclosed to NHTSA and 
therefore, do not comply with paragraph S4.4.2(e) of FMVSS No. 110.
    IV. Rule Requirements: Paragraph S4.4.2(e) of FMVSS No. 110 titled 
``Rim Markings for Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars'' includes the 
requirements relevant to this petition:
     Each rim or, at the option of the manufacturer in the case 
of a single-

[[Page 16429]]

piece wheel, each wheel disc shall be marked with the information 
listed in paragraphs S4.4.2 (a) through (e), in lettering not less than 
3 millimeters in height, impressed to a depth or, at the option of the 
manufacturer, embossed to a height of not less than 0.125 millimeters.
     The month, day and year or the month and year of 
manufacture, expressed either numerically or by use of a symbol, at the 
option of the manufacturer. For example: ``September 4, 2001'' may be 
expressed numerically as: ``90401'', ``904, 01'' or ``01, 904''; 
``September 2001'' may be expressed as: ``901'', ``9, 01'' or ``01, 
9''.
     Any manufacturer that elects to express the date of 
manufacture by means of a symbol shall notify NHTSA in writing of the 
full names and addresses of all manufacturers and brand name owners 
utilizing that symbol and the name and address of the trademark owner 
of that symbol, if any.
     The notification shall describe in narrative form and in 
detail how the month, day, and year or the month and year are depicted 
by the symbol. Such description shall include an actual size graphic 
depiction of the symbol, showing and/or explaining the 
interrelationship of the component parts of the symbol as they will 
appear on the rim or single piece of wheel disc, including dimensional 
specifications, and where the symbol will be located on the rim or 
single piece wheel disc.
     The notification shall be received by NHTSA not less than 
60 calendar days before the first use of the symbol.
    V. Summary of GM's Petition: GM described the subject noncompliance 
and stated its belief that the noncompliance is inconsequential as it 
relates to motor vehicle safety.
    In support of its petition, GM submitted the following reasons:
    (a) This is not a safety issue: Neither the marking method nor the 
timely disclosure of it to NHTSA have any effect on the operation, 
performance, or safety of the affected vehicles. For example, the 
required date marks do not serve any safety purpose and do not provide 
any safety benefit. The purpose of the date mark is traceability in the 
event a future wheel defect is discovered. For example, if it were 
discovered that Dicastal wheels manufactured in January 2015 had a 
defect (e.g., high porosity in the casting) a dealer could use the date 
marking to determine if a given wheel was in the suspect population.
    The affected wheels on GM's vehicles have accurate date markings 
and can be traced in the event of a defect. Except for a small 
percentage of affected wheels, the markings have all been disclosed to 
NHTSA. Disclosed or not, however, GM and its dealers can still trace 
the wheels because the unregistered date marks contain sufficient 
information to clearly identify the month and year of manufacture. 
Therefore, the issue is more of a procedural one, and the fact that 
these date marks were not registered with NHTSA in a timely manner 
presents no substantive safety issue and is inconsequential to motor 
vehicle safety.
    (b) NHTSA has granted similar requests: Granting this petition 
would be consistent with NHTSA's past decisions involving wheel 
markings required by FMVSS No. 110. For example, NHTSA recently granted 
a petition for inconsequential treatment related to a noncompliance 
with FMVSS No. 110's requirement that the source of the published 
nominal dimensions be marked on the rims. In that case, NHTSA agreed 
that the incorrect rim marking had no effect on the performance and 
safety of the tire/rim combination. Here, the connection to safety is 
even more attenuated because the markings on the wheels are correct, 
they were just not disclosed to NHTSA in a timely manner. For at least 
the same reasons NHTSA found incorrect rim markings inconsequential to 
vehicle safety, GM requests that NHTSA come to the same conclusion 
regarding the correct, but unregistered, markings in this case as being 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
    (c) The issue has been corrected: Dicastal corrected the issue in 
production on April 25, 2015, when it stopped using unregistered date 
marks. Since then, the manufacture date marks on GM's Dicastal wheels 
have been properly disclosed to NHTSA and comply with FMVSS No. 110.
    GM concluded by expressing the belief that the subject 
noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety, 
and that its petition to be exempted from providing notification of the 
noncompliance, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30118, and a remedy for the 
noncompliance, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120, should be granted.
    GM's complete petition and all supporting documents are available 
by logging onto the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website at: 
https://www.regulations.gov and following the online search 
instructions to locate the docket number listed in the title of this 
petition.

NHTSA Decision

    NHTSA Analysis: FMVSS No. 110, paragraph S4.4.2(e), requires that a 
manufacturer using a symbol to identify the date of manufacture on its 
rims provide a detailed narrative to NHTSA of how the month, day and 
year, or month and year, are depicted by the symbol, and notify NHTSA 
not less than 60 calendar days before the first use of the symbol. In 
this case, GM did not properly submit the symbol information or notify 
NHTSA before first use.
    GM pointed out that the actual marking method nor the timely 
disclosure of the method to NHTSA would have any effect on the 
operation, performance, or safety of the affected vehicles and that the 
main reason for date codes on rims is for traceability in the event of 
a recall. NHTSA would agree that date of manufacture stamped on the 
rim, if correct, is essential for identifying production scope in the 
event of a recall, but the marking itself does not affect the 
performance and safety of the rims. Since this issue was brought to the 
attention of the agency, GM has submitted the required notification and 
details of the date symbols used on the impacted vehicle rims, and the 
agency confirmed that the symbols used provide the month and year 
information required.
    GM concluded by noting the fact that the issue was corrected in 
production on April 25, 2015. Dicastal subsequently registered the 
marking method(s) by filing the required submission with NHTSA on May 
13, 2015.
    NHTSA's Decision: In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA has 
decided that GM has met its burden of persuasion that the subject FMVSS 
No. 110 noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. 
Accordingly, GM's petition is hereby granted and GM is exempted from 
the obligation of providing notification of, and a remedy for, that 
noncompliance under 49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120.
    NHTSA notes that the statutory provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 
30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to file petitions for a 
determination of inconsequentiality allow NHTSA to exempt manufacturers 
only from the duties found in sections 30118 and 30120, respectively, 
to notify owners, purchasers, and dealers of a defect or noncompliance 
and to remedy the defect or noncompliance. Therefore, this decision 
only applies to the subject vehicles that GM no longer controlled at 
the time it determined that the noncompliance existed. However, 
granting of this petition does not relieve vehicle distributors and 
dealers of the prohibitions on the sale, offer for sale, or 
introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of 
the noncompliant vehicles under their

[[Page 16430]]

control after GM notified them that the subject noncompliance existed.

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at 
49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.

Claudia W. Covell,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-07827 Filed 4-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P



                                                16428                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2018 / Notices

                                                   2. The glass required for the subject                inconsequentiality allow NHTSA to                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                buses and school buses must meet the                    exempt manufacturers only from the                       I. Overview: GM has determined that
                                                requirements of ANSI 26.1–1996 AS2.                     duties found in sections 30118 and                    certain MY 2014–2016 GM motor
                                                Forest River requested that a sample of                 30120, respectively, to notify owners,                vehicles do not fully comply with
                                                the glass be tested to ensure its                       purchasers, and dealers of a defect or                paragraph S4.4.2(e) of FMVSS No. 110,
                                                compliance with all applicable                          noncompliance and to remedy the                       Tire Selection and Rims and Motor
                                                standards. The test results have affirmed               defect or noncompliance. Therefore, any               Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load
                                                that the glass indeed meets ANSI 26.1–                  decision on this petition only applies to             Carrying Capacity Information for Motor
                                                1996 AS2’s requirements and is                          the subject buses that Forest River no                Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536
                                                compliant for the designed position in                  longer controlled at the time it                      kilograms (10,000 pounds)or Less (49
                                                which it is applied.                                    determined that the noncompliance                     CFR 571.110). GM filed a
                                                   3. Forest River is enclosing copies of               existed. However, any decision on this                noncompliance report dated December
                                                statements from the glass manufacturer                  petition does not relieve vehicle                     6, 2016, and then amended their report
                                                Cleer Vision, and test data confirming                  distributors and dealers of the                       on April 7, 2017, pursuant to 49 CFR
                                                the glass’ compliance with ANSI and                     prohibitions on the sale, offer for sale,             part 573, Defect and Noncompliance
                                                FMVSS No. 205’s performance                             or introduction or delivery for                       Responsibility and Reports. GM
                                                standards.                                              introduction into interstate commerce of              subsequently petitioned NHTSA on
                                                   4. Forest River stated that the agency               the noncompliant buses under their                    January 5, 2017, and later revised it on
                                                has previously granted numerous                         control after Forest River notified them              April 7, 2017, pursuant to 49 U.S.C.
                                                petitions for determinations of                         that the subject noncompliance existed.               30118(d) and 30120(h) and 49 CFR part
                                                inconsequential noncompliance in                                                                              556, for an exemption from the
                                                                                                          Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120:
                                                regard to FMVSS No. 205, including                      delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and           notification and remedy requirements of
                                                petitions involving mismarkings similar                 501.8.                                                49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 on the basis that
                                                to the instant matter. See the following                                                                      this noncompliance is inconsequential
                                                recent examples:                                        Claudia W. Covell,                                    as it relates to motor vehicle safety.
                                                   a. Mitsubishi Motors North America,                  Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety                Notice of receipt of the petition was
                                                Inc. Petition, 80 FR 72482 (November                    Compliance.                                           published, with a 30-day public
                                                19, 2015) (involving rear door windows                  [FR Doc. 2018–07828 Filed 4–13–18; 8:45 am]           comment period on May 11, 2017, in the
                                                marked with the model number ‘‘M66’’                    BILLING CODE 4910–59–P                                Federal Register (82 FR 22058). No
                                                instead of the correct ‘‘M131’’);                                                                             comments were received. To view the
                                                   b. Custom Glass Solutions Upper                                                                            petition and all supporting documents
                                                Sandusky Corporation Petition, 79 FR                    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                          log onto the Federal Docket
                                                49833 (January 23, 2015) (involving                                                                           Management System (FDMS) web page
                                                laminated glass panes mistakenly                        National Highway Traffic Safety
                                                                                                                                                              at: http://www.regulations.gov/. Then
                                                marked as ‘‘tempered’’ and with the                     Administration
                                                                                                                                                              follow the online search instruction to
                                                incorrect manufacturer’s DOT number,                    [Docket No. NHTSA–2016–0140; Notice 2]                locate docket number ‘‘NHTSA–2016–
                                                model number, and manufacturer’s                                                                              0140.’’
                                                trademark).                                             General Motors, LLC, Grant of Petition                   II. Vehicles Involved: Approximately
                                                   c. Mitsubishi Motors North America,                  for Decision of Inconsequential                       130,088 of the following MY 2014–2016
                                                Inc. Petition, 79 FR 49833 (August 22,                  Noncompliance                                         GM motor vehicles manufactured
                                                2014) (involving rear door windows                                                                            between August 7, 2014, and June 15,
                                                marked with the model number ‘‘M13l’’                   AGENCY: National Highway Traffic
                                                                                                        Safety Administration (NHTSA),                        2015, are potentially involved:
                                                instead of the correct ‘‘M129’’);
                                                   d. General Motors LLC Petition, 79 FR                Department of Transportation (DOT).                   • 2015–2016 Cadillac Escalade
                                                23402 (April 28, 2014) (involving                       ACTION: Grant of petition.                            • 2015–2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV
                                                quarter windows marked as ‘‘AS2’’                                                                             • 2015 Cadillac SRX
                                                instead of the correct ‘‘AS3’’).                        SUMMARY:   General Motors, LLC (GM),                  • 2015–2016 Chevrolet Tahoe
                                                   Forest River concluded by expressing                 has determined that certain model year                • 2015–2016 GMC Yukon
                                                the belief that the subject                             (MY) 2014–2016 GM motor vehicles do                   • 2015–2016 GMC Yukon XL
                                                noncompliance is inconsequential as it                  not fully comply with Federal Motor                   • 2014–2015 GMC Sierra
                                                relates to motor vehicle safety, and that               Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.                   • 2014–2015 Chevrolet Silverado
                                                its petition to be exempted from                        110, Tire Selection and Rims and Motor                • 2015–2016 Chevrolet Suburban
                                                providing notification of the                           Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load                     III. Noncompliance: GM explains that
                                                noncompliance, as required by 49                        Carrying Capacity Information for Motor               the noncompliance is that the subject
                                                U.S.C. 30118, and a remedy for the                      Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536                         vehicles are equipped with wheels
                                                noncompliance, as required by 49                        kilograms (10,000 pounds)or Less. GM                  supplied by Citic Dicastal Co. LTD
                                                U.S.C. 30120, should be granted.                        filed a noncompliance Report dated                    (Dicastal) that are marked with
                                                   Forest River’s complete petition and                 December 6, 2016, and then amended                    unregistered date of manufacture marks
                                                all supporting documents are available                  their report on April 7, 2017. GM                     that were not previously disclosed to
                                                by logging onto the Federal Docket                      subsequently petitioned NHTSA on                      NHTSA and therefore, do not comply
                                                Management System (FDMS) website at:                    January 5, 2017, and later revised it on              with paragraph S4.4.2(e) of FMVSS No.
                                                https://www.regulations.gov and                         April 7, 2017, for a decision that the                110.
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                                                following the online search instructions                subject noncompliance is                                 IV. Rule Requirements: Paragraph
                                                to locate the docket number listed in the               inconsequential as it relates to motor                S4.4.2(e) of FMVSS No. 110 titled ‘‘Rim
                                                title of this notice.                                   vehicle safety.                                       Markings for Vehicles Other than
                                                   NHTSA notes that the statutory                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      Passenger Cars’’ includes the
                                                provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and                      Kerrin Bressant, Office of Vehicle Safety             requirements relevant to this petition:
                                                30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to                  Compliance, NHTSA, telephone (202)                       • Each rim or, at the option of the
                                                file petitions for a determination of                   366–1110, facsimile (202) 366–5930.                   manufacturer in the case of a single-


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2018 / Notices                                            16429

                                                piece wheel, each wheel disc shall be                   wheels, the markings have all been                    the date of manufacture on its rims
                                                marked with the information listed in                   disclosed to NHTSA. Disclosed or not,                 provide a detailed narrative to NHTSA
                                                paragraphs S4.4.2 (a) through (e), in                   however, GM and its dealers can still                 of how the month, day and year, or
                                                lettering not less than 3 millimeters in                trace the wheels because the                          month and year, are depicted by the
                                                height, impressed to a depth or, at the                 unregistered date marks contain                       symbol, and notify NHTSA not less than
                                                option of the manufacturer, embossed to                 sufficient information to clearly identify            60 calendar days before the first use of
                                                a height of not less than 0.125                         the month and year of manufacture.                    the symbol. In this case, GM did not
                                                millimeters.                                            Therefore, the issue is more of a                     properly submit the symbol information
                                                   • The month, day and year or the                     procedural one, and the fact that these               or notify NHTSA before first use.
                                                month and year of manufacture,                          date marks were not registered with                      GM pointed out that the actual
                                                expressed either numerically or by use                  NHTSA in a timely manner presents no                  marking method nor the timely
                                                of a symbol, at the option of the                       substantive safety issue and is                       disclosure of the method to NHTSA
                                                manufacturer. For example: ‘‘September                  inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.              would have any effect on the operation,
                                                4, 2001’’ may be expressed numerically                     (b) NHTSA has granted similar                      performance, or safety of the affected
                                                as: ‘‘90401’’, ‘‘904, 01’’ or ‘‘01, 904’’;              requests: Granting this petition would                vehicles and that the main reason for
                                                ‘‘September 2001’’ may be expressed as:                 be consistent with NHTSA’s past                       date codes on rims is for traceability in
                                                ‘‘901’’, ‘‘9, 01’’ or ‘‘01, 9’’.                        decisions involving wheel markings                    the event of a recall. NHTSA would
                                                   • Any manufacturer that elects to                    required by FMVSS No. 110. For                        agree that date of manufacture stamped
                                                express the date of manufacture by                      example, NHTSA recently granted a                     on the rim, if correct, is essential for
                                                means of a symbol shall notify NHTSA                    petition for inconsequential treatment                identifying production scope in the
                                                in writing of the full names and                        related to a noncompliance with FMVSS                 event of a recall, but the marking itself
                                                addresses of all manufacturers and                      No. 110’s requirement that the source of              does not affect the performance and
                                                brand name owners utilizing that                        the published nominal dimensions be                   safety of the rims. Since this issue was
                                                symbol and the name and address of the                  marked on the rims. In that case,                     brought to the attention of the agency,
                                                trademark owner of that symbol, if any.                 NHTSA agreed that the incorrect rim                   GM has submitted the required
                                                   • The notification shall describe in                 marking had no effect on the                          notification and details of the date
                                                narrative form and in detail how the                    performance and safety of the tire/rim                symbols used on the impacted vehicle
                                                month, day, and year or the month and                   combination. Here, the connection to                  rims, and the agency confirmed that the
                                                year are depicted by the symbol. Such                   safety is even more attenuated because                symbols used provide the month and
                                                description shall include an actual size                the markings on the wheels are correct,               year information required.
                                                graphic depiction of the symbol,                        they were just not disclosed to NHTSA
                                                                                                                                                                 GM concluded by noting the fact that
                                                showing and/or explaining the                           in a timely manner. For at least the same
                                                                                                                                                              the issue was corrected in production
                                                interrelationship of the component parts                reasons NHTSA found incorrect rim
                                                                                                                                                              on April 25, 2015. Dicastal subsequently
                                                of the symbol as they will appear on the                markings inconsequential to vehicle
                                                                                                                                                              registered the marking method(s) by
                                                rim or single piece of wheel disc,                      safety, GM requests that NHTSA come
                                                                                                                                                              filing the required submission with
                                                including dimensional specifications,                   to the same conclusion regarding the
                                                                                                                                                              NHTSA on May 13, 2015.
                                                and where the symbol will be located on                 correct, but unregistered, markings in
                                                                                                                                                                 NHTSA’s Decision: In consideration
                                                the rim or single piece wheel disc.                     this case as being inconsequential to
                                                   • The notification shall be received                                                                       of the foregoing, NHTSA has decided
                                                                                                        motor vehicle safety.
                                                by NHTSA not less than 60 calendar                         (c) The issue has been corrected:                  that GM has met its burden of
                                                days before the first use of the symbol.                Dicastal corrected the issue in                       persuasion that the subject FMVSS No.
                                                   V. Summary of GM’s Petition: GM                      production on April 25, 2015, when it                 110 noncompliance is inconsequential
                                                described the subject noncompliance                     stopped using unregistered date marks.                to motor vehicle safety. Accordingly,
                                                and stated its belief that the                          Since then, the manufacture date marks                GM’s petition is hereby granted and GM
                                                noncompliance is inconsequential as it                  on GM’s Dicastal wheels have been                     is exempted from the obligation of
                                                relates to motor vehicle safety.                        properly disclosed to NHTSA and                       providing notification of, and a remedy
                                                   In support of its petition, GM                       comply with FMVSS No. 110.                            for, that noncompliance under 49 U.S.C.
                                                submitted the following reasons:                           GM concluded by expressing the                     30118 and 30120.
                                                   (a) This is not a safety issue: Neither              belief that the subject noncompliance is                 NHTSA notes that the statutory
                                                the marking method nor the timely                       inconsequential as it relates to motor                provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and
                                                disclosure of it to NHTSA have any                      vehicle safety, and that its petition to be           30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to
                                                effect on the operation, performance, or                exempted from providing notification of               file petitions for a determination of
                                                safety of the affected vehicles. For                    the noncompliance, as required by 49                  inconsequentiality allow NHTSA to
                                                example, the required date marks do not                 U.S.C. 30118, and a remedy for the                    exempt manufacturers only from the
                                                serve any safety purpose and do not                     noncompliance, as required by 49                      duties found in sections 30118 and
                                                provide any safety benefit. The purpose                 U.S.C. 30120, should be granted.                      30120, respectively, to notify owners,
                                                of the date mark is traceability in the                    GM’s complete petition and all                     purchasers, and dealers of a defect or
                                                event a future wheel defect is                          supporting documents are available by                 noncompliance and to remedy the
                                                discovered. For example, if it were                     logging onto the Federal Docket                       defect or noncompliance. Therefore, this
                                                discovered that Dicastal wheels                         Management System (FDMS) website at:                  decision only applies to the subject
                                                manufactured in January 2015 had a                      https://www.regulations.gov and                       vehicles that GM no longer controlled at
                                                defect (e.g., high porosity in the casting)             following the online search instructions              the time it determined that the
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                                                a dealer could use the date marking to                  to locate the docket number listed in the             noncompliance existed. However,
                                                determine if a given wheel was in the                   title of this petition.                               granting of this petition does not relieve
                                                suspect population.                                                                                           vehicle distributors and dealers of the
                                                   The affected wheels on GM’s vehicles                 NHTSA Decision                                        prohibitions on the sale, offer for sale,
                                                have accurate date markings and can be                    NHTSA Analysis: FMVSS No. 110,                      or introduction or delivery for
                                                traced in the event of a defect. Except                 paragraph S4.4.2(e), requires that a                  introduction into interstate commerce of
                                                for a small percentage of affected                      manufacturer using a symbol to identify               the noncompliant vehicles under their


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                                                16430                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2018 / Notices

                                                control after GM notified them that the                 www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online               30118 and 30120 and does not represent
                                                subject noncompliance existed.                          instructions for submitting comments.                 any agency decision or other exercise of
                                                  Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120:                       • Comments may also be faxed to                    judgment concerning the merits of the
                                                delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and             (202) 493–2251.                                       petition.
                                                501.8.                                                     Comments must be written in the                       II. Vehicles Involved: Approximately
                                                                                                        English language, and be no greater than              287,064 MY 2013–2017 Jeep Compass
                                                Claudia W. Covell,                                      15 pages in length, although there is no              motor vehicles, manufactured between
                                                Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety               limit to the length of necessary                      January 18, 2013, and December 23,
                                                Compliance.                                             attachments to the comments. If                       2016, are potentially involved.
                                                [FR Doc. 2018–07827 Filed 4–13–18; 8:45 am]             comments are submitted in hard copy                      III. Noncompliance: FCA US explains
                                                BILLING CODE 4910–59–P                                  form, please ensure that two copies are               that the noncompliance is that the
                                                                                                        provided. If you wish to receive                      subject vehicles were equipped with
                                                                                                        confirmation that comments you have                   liftgate privacy glass that does not fully
                                                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                            submitted by mail were received, please               comply with paragraph S6 of FMVSS
                                                                                                        enclose a stamped, self-addressed                     No. 205. Specifically, the liftgate glass
                                                National Highway Traffic Safety                         postcard with the comments. Note that                 has the AS2 solar glazing marking when
                                                Administration                                          all comments received will be posted                  it should have been marked with the
                                                                                                        without change to https://                            AS3 privacy glazing marking.
                                                [Docket No. NHTSA–2017–0098; Notice 1]                  www.regulations.gov, including any                       IV. Rule Requirements: Paragraphs S6,
                                                                                                        personal information provided.                        S6.1(a)(b), S6.2, and S6.3(a)(b) of
                                                FCA US, LLC, Receipt of Petition for                       All comments and supporting
                                                Decision of Inconsequential                                                                                   FMVSS No. 205 include the
                                                                                                        materials received before the close of                requirements relevant to this petition:
                                                Noncompliance                                           business on the closing date indicated
                                                                                                        above will be filed in the docket and                    • A Prime glazing material manufacturer
                                                AGENCY:  National Highway Traffic                                                                             must certify, in accordance with 49 U.S.C.
                                                Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S.                     will be considered. All comments and                  30115, each piece of glazing material to
                                                Department of Transportation (DOT).                     supporting materials received after the               which this standard applies is designed as:
                                                                                                        closing date will also be filed and will                 A. A component of any specific motor
                                                ACTION: Receipt of petition.
                                                                                                        be considered to the fullest extent                   vehicle or camper; or
                                                SUMMARY:   FCA US, LLC (f/k/a Chrysler                  possible.                                                B. to be cut into components for use in
                                                Group, LLC ‘‘FCA US’’), has determined                     When the petition is granted or                    motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle
                                                that certain model year (MY) 2013–2017                  denied, notice of the decision will also              equipment.
                                                                                                        be published in the Federal Register                     • A prime glazing manufacturer certifies
                                                Jeep Compass motor vehicles do not                                                                            its glazing by adding to the marks required
                                                fully comply with Federal Motor                         pursuant to the authority indicated at
                                                                                                        the end of this notice.                               by section 7 of ANSI/SAE Z26.1–1996, in
                                                Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.                                                                           letters and numerals of the same size, the
                                                                                                           All comments, background
                                                205, Glazing Materials. FCA US filed a                                                                        symbol ‘‘DOT’’ and a manufacturer’s code
                                                                                                        documentation, and supporting
                                                noncompliance report dated October 10,                                                                        mark that NHTSA assigns to the
                                                                                                        materials submitted to the docket may                 manufacturer.
                                                2017. FCA US also petitioned NHTSA
                                                                                                        be viewed by anyone at the address and                   • NHTSA will assign a code mark to a
                                                on November 2, 2017, for a decision that
                                                                                                        times given above. The documents may                  manufacturer after the manufacturer submits
                                                the subject noncompliance is
                                                                                                        also be viewed on the internet at https://            a written request to the Office of Vehicle
                                                inconsequential as it relates to motor
                                                                                                        www.regulations.gov by following the                  Safety Compliance, National Highway Traffic
                                                vehicle safety.                                                                                               Safety Administration. The request must
                                                                                                        online instructions for accessing the
                                                DATES: The closing date for comments                    dockets. The docket ID number for this                include the company name, address, and a
                                                on the petition is May 16, 2018.                        petition is shown in the heading of this              statement from the manufacturer certifying
                                                ADDRESSES: Interested persons are                                                                             its status as a prime glazing manufacturer as
                                                                                                        notice.
                                                                                                                                                              defined in paragraph S4.
                                                invited to submit written data, views,                     DOT’s complete Privacy Act
                                                                                                                                                                 • A manufacturer or distributor who cuts
                                                and arguments on this petition.                         Statement is available for review in a                a section of glazing material to which this
                                                Comments must refer to the docket and                   Federal Register notice published on                  standard applies, for use in a motor vehicle
                                                notice number cited in the title of this                April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477–78).                     or camper, must:
                                                notice and submitted by any of the                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                               A. Mark that material in accordance with
                                                following methods:                                         I. Overview: FCA US, has determined                section 7 of ANSI/SAE Z26.1–1996; and
                                                  • Mail: Send comments by mail                         that certain MY 2013–2017 Jeep                           B. certify that its product complies with
                                                addressed to U.S. Department of                         Compass motor vehicles do not fully                   this standard in accordance with 49 U.S.C.
                                                Transportation, Docket Operations, M–                   comply with FMVSS No. 205, Glazing                    30115.
                                                30, West Building Ground Floor, Room                    Materials (49 CFR 571.205). FCA US                       V. Summary of FCA US’s Petition:
                                                W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,                     filed a noncompliance report dated                    FCA US described the subject
                                                Washington, DC 20590.                                   October 10, 2017, pursuant to 49 CFR                  noncompliance and stated its belief that
                                                  • Hand Delivery: Deliver comments                     part 573, Defect and Noncompliance                    the noncompliance is inconsequential
                                                by hand to U.S. Department of                           Responsibility and Reports. FCA US                    as it relates to motor vehicle safety.
                                                Transportation, Docket Operations, M–                   also petitioned NHTSA on November 2,                     In support of its petition, FCA US
                                                30, West Building Ground Floor, Room                    2017, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d)                  submitted the following reasoning:
                                                W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,                     and 30120(h) and 49 CFR part 556, for                    1. The liftgate glass glazing of the
srobinson on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                Washington, DC 20590. The Docket                        an exemption from the notification and                affected vehicles otherwise meets all
                                                Section is open on weekdays from 10                     remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C.                      marking and performance requirements
                                                a.m. to 5 p.m. except Federal Holidays.                 Chapter 301 on the basis that this                    of FMVSS No. 205 and ANSI Z26.1, and
                                                  • Electronically: Submit comments                     noncompliance is inconsequential as it                as NHTSA has previously noted, ‘‘The
                                                electronically by logging onto the                      relates to motor vehicle safety.                      purpose of this standard [FMVSS No.
                                                Federal Docket Management System                           This notice of receipt of FCA US’s                 205] is to ensure a necessary degree of
                                                (FDMS) website at https://                              petition is published under 49 U.S.C.                 transparency in motor vehicle windows


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Document Created: 2018-04-14 02:19:10
Document Modified: 2018-04-14 02:19:10
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionGrant of petition.
ContactKerrin Bressant, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA, telephone (202) 366-1110, facsimile (202) 366-5930.
FR Citation83 FR 16428 

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