98-10834. Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20246-20247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10834]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition

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

ACTION: Denial of petition for a defect investigation.

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

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a 
petition submitted to NHTSA under 49 U.S.C. 30162, requesting that the 
agency commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect 
related to motor vehicle safety. The petition is hereinafter identified 
as DP98-003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. George Chiang, Office of Defects 
Investigation (ODI), NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590. Telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Ms. Lisa Smith of Newburgh, Indiana, 
submitted a petition dated February 24, 1998, requesting that an 
investigation be initiated to determine whether Model Year (MY) 1989 
Chrysler minivans (Voyagers) contain a defect related to motor vehicle 
safety within the meaning of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301. The petition 
alleges that MY 1989 Plymouth Voyagers have a defective automatic 
transmission that can fail early in the life of the vehicle and require 
a costly repair.
    In her petition letter, Ms. Smith stated that ``I am filing this 
petition against the Chrysler Plymouth Corp. for their failure to 
produce a quality transmission in the 1989 minivans (Voyagers). 
Starting in 1989 model vans they installed a transmission that was 
faulty in its performance * * * I feel Chrysler is putting quantity 
before quality * * * I request you have a hearing on this costly issue. 
In the meantime I will be paying my repair bill for my 3rd 
transmission.''
    Clearly, failure of her transmission with the high cost of its 
replacement is

[[Page 20247]]

frustrating to the petitioner. While frustrating, the type of 
transmission problem the petitioner described is not related to motor 
vehicle safety. The agency has no jurisdiction over non-safety defects, 
warranty, dealership, and remuneration matters.
    Accordingly, it is unlikely that NHTSA would issue an order for the 
notification and remedy of a safety-related defect in the subject 
vehicles at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the 
petition. Therefore, the petition is denied.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30162(d); delegations of authority at CFR 
1.50 and 501.8.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Safety Assurance.
[FR Doc. 98-10834 Filed 4-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P