[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 208 (Wednesday, October 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57744-57745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28896]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4510]
General Motors Corporation, Receipt of Application for Decision
of Inconsequential Noncompliance
General Motors Corporation (GM) has determined that certain 1998
and 1999 GM passenger cars were not in full compliance with 49 CFR
571.110, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, ``Tire
selection and rims,'' and has filed an appropriate report pursuant to
49 CFR part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance Reports.'' GM has also
applied to be exempted from the notification and remedy requirements of
49 U.S.C. Chapter 301--``Motor Vehicle Safety'' on the basis that the
noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or
other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the application.
Paragraph S4.3(b) of FMVSS No. 110 states that each vehicle shall
have a placard, permanently affixed to the glove compartment door or an
equally accessible location, that displays the designated seating
capacity, in terms of the total number of occupants and the number of
occupants for each seat location.
From May 3, 1998 to August 6, 1998 GM produced 303,936 U.S.
passenger cars with errors in the occupant capacity numbers on the tire
information placard. GM stated that the errors were caused by
unforeseen changes in the computer program that generates the labels.
The programming error resulted in the incorrect numbers for the center
and rear positions. However, the correct number was provided for the
front position. The following table summarizes the information on the
subject placard:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Front Center Rear Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
As produced............................ 2 2 0 3
Correct................................ 2 0 3 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GM supports its application for inconsequential noncompliance with
the following statements:
1. The vehicle capacity weight, recommended cold tire inflation
pressure, and recommended tire size designation information were not
affected by the programming change and that information is correct on
the placards of the subject vehicles;
[[Page 57745]]
2. Occupant capacity information is provided to help customers
avoid exceeding tire load limits. These errors will not contribute to
overloading because the correct vehicle weight capacity is provided.
The seating capacity is understated. The correct tire pressure
information is also provided and the tire load limit will not be
exceeded with all seating positions occupied; and
3. A customer would look at the number of seats and the number of
safety belts in a car to determine its capacity, rather than look at
the placard. If a customer does read the seat capacity numbers on the
tire placard, it will be obvious that the numbers are incorrect because
the sum of the seat numbers will not equal the total number of the
label. It is unlikely that anyone will be confused about the seat
capacity of these cars after looking at the seats and safety belts.
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments on the application described above. Comments should refer to
the docket number and be submitted to: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20590. It is requested that two copies be
submitted.
All comments received before the close of business on the closing
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting
materials, and all comments received after the closing date, will also
be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the
application is granted or denied, the notice will be published in the
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
Comment closing date: November 27, 1998.
(49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and
501.8)
Issued on: October 21, 1998.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-28896 Filed 10-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
