[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 170 (Thursday, September 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 48231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22919]
[[Page 48231]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5461; Notice 2]
Grant of Application for Determination of Inconsequential
Noncompliance With Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, Lamps,
Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment
General Motors Corporation (GM) determined that some GM 1997 EV1
electric passenger cars fail to meet the turn signal requirements of
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108--Lamps,
reflective devices and associated equipment. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C.
30118 and 30120, GM applied to us for a decision that the noncompliance
is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. In accordance with 49 CFR
556.4(b)(6), GM also submitted a 49 CFR part 573 noncompliance
notification to the agency.
We published notice of receipt of application in the Federal
Register (64 FR 22897) on April 28, 1999. Opportunity was afforded for
comments until May 28, 1999, but none were received.
GM stated that the EV1 is equipped with an electronic turn signal
module that controls turn signal operation. A subset of the module
population can be affected by random inputs that cause the internal
timing of the electronic circuit to become un-synchronized. If this
occurs, it can cause the left turn signal circuit on affected vehicles
to operate improperly and not be in compliance with FMVSS No. 108. The
left front turn signal lamp may flash at a rapid rate while the left
rear turn signal lamp illuminates but does not flash. These conditions
can continue after the turn signal lever automatically returns to the
off position, but stop if the driver manually cancels the turn signal
or turns the ignition off. The right turn signal is not affected.
GM believes that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor
vehicle safety for these reasons:
The potential for this condition is confined to a very
small population of vehicles, 558.
The condition is not found on every vehicle. Only a subset
of vehicles is affected, based on the build variation of the turn
signal module.
GM knows of only eight customers who have reported the
condition. The turn signal module in these vehicles has been replaced.
While GM has not been able to determine the exact
percentage of affected vehicles (the anomaly is not readily repeatable
in the laboratory, and the small production run has severely limited
the number of parts available for testing), the likelihood of
experiencing the condition is extremely rare. The worst case part,
found in laboratory testing, exhibited the anomaly 16 times in 40,000
cycles (0.0004 times per cycle). Other tested parts did not exhibit the
condition as often, or at all.
The left turn signal does not fail completely. An oncoming
driver would see the front turn signal flashing at a rapid rate. A
following driver would see the left turn signal lamp on, although it
would not be flashing. Both of these results are similar to a vehicle
that has a burned-out turn signal lamp.
Like a vehicle with a burned out lamp, a driver
experiencing this condition is alerted that the turn signal system is
not functioning properly because the turn signal indicator light does
not flash.
A turn signal with this condition does not self-cancel,
but it can easily be canceled manually.
GM knows of no crashes or injuries associated with this
condition.
We have concluded that the few vehicles affected by this
noncompliance, as well as the fact that the turn signals show the
driver that they have failed, warrant a finding that this noncompliance
is inconsequential with regard to motor vehicle safety.
In consideration of the foregoing, we have decided that the
applicant has met its burden of persuasion that the noncompliance
described above is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
Accordingly, its application is granted, and GM is exempted from
providing the notification of the noncompliance required by 49 U.S.C.
30118, and remedy, required by 49 CFR 30120.
(49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50
and 501.8)
Issued on: August 30, 1999.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-22919 Filed 9-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
