[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18491-18492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9934]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-3716]
Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 1995-1998
Ford Windstar Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1995-1998 Ford Windstar multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) are
eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1995-
1998 Ford Windstar MPVs that were not originally manufactured to comply
with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible
for importation into the United States because (1) they are
substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for
sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer
as complying with the safety standards, and (2) they are capable of
being readily altered to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 15, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400
Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 10 am to
5 pm]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards shall be refused admission into the United
States unless NHTSA has decided that the motor vehicle is substantially
similar to a motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into
and sale in the United States, certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and of
the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared,
and is capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either
manufacturers or
[[Page 18492]]
importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR part 592.
As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice in the Federal
Register of each petition that it receives, and affords interested
persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the close of the
comment period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the petition and any
comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is eligible for
importation. The agency then publishes this decision in the Federal
Register.
Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'')
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1995-1998 Ford Windstar MPVs are eligible for importation into the
United States. The vehicles which Champagne believes are substantially
similar are 1995-1998 Ford Windstar MPVs that were manufactured for
sale in, the United States and certified by their manufacturer, Ford
Motor Company, as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
1995-1998 Ford Windstars to their U.S. certified counterparts, and
found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1995-1998 Ford Windstars, as
originally manufactured, conform to many Federal motor vehicle safety
standards in the same manner as their U.S. certified counterparts, or
are capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1995-
1998 Ford Windstars are identical to their U.S. certified counterparts
with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift
Lever Sequence . . ., 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106
Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic
Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control
Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 204 Steering
Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks
and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield
Retention, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of
Interior Materials.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with a noncomplying symbol on the brake
failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp
that displays the appropriate symbol; (c) recalibration of the
speedometer/odometer from kilometers to miles per hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies; (b)
installation of U.S.-model front and rear sidemarker/reflector
assemblies.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is
switched off.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a
U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's position, or a belt webbing
actuated microswitch inside the driver's seat belt retractor; (b)
installation of an ignition switch actuated seat belt warning lamp and
buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver's and passenger's side air bags
and knee bolsters with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are not
so equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with
combination lap and shoulder restraints that adjust by means of an
automatic retractor and release by means of a single push button at
both front designated seating positions, with combination lap and
shoulder restraints that release by means of a single push button at
both rear outboard designated seating positions, and with a lap belt in
the rear center designated seating position.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the
evaporative emissions collection canister.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number
plate must be affixed to the vehicles to meet the requirements of 49
CFR part 565.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW,
Washington, DC 20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies
be submitted.
All comments received before the close of business on the closing
date indicated above will be considered, and will be available for
examination in the docket at the above address both before and after
that date. To the extent possible, comments filed after the closing
date will also be considered. Notice of final action on the petition
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority
indicated below.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8;
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on: April 9, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-9934 Filed 4-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
