NHTSA Interpretation File Search
Overview
NHTSA's Chief Counsel interprets the statutes that the agency administers and the standards and regulations that it issues. Members of the public may submit requests for interpretation, and the Chief Counsel will respond with a letter of interpretation. These interpretation letters look at the particular facts presented in the question and explain the agency’s opinion on how the law applies given those facts. These letters of interpretation are guidance documents. They do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. They are intended only to provide information to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
Understanding NHTSA’s Online Interpretation Files
NHTSA makes its letters of interpretation available to the public on this webpage.
An interpretation letter represents the opinion of the Chief Counsel based on the facts of individual cases at the time the letter was written. While these letters may be helpful in determining how the agency might answer a question that another person has if that question is similar to a previously considered question, do not assume that a prior interpretation will necessarily apply to your situation.
- Your facts may be sufficiently different from those presented in prior interpretations, such that the agency's answer to you might be different from the answer in the prior interpretation letter;
- Your situation may be completely new to the agency and not addressed in an existing interpretation letter;
- The agency's safety standards or regulations may have changed since the prior interpretation letter was written so that the agency's prior interpretation no longer applies; or
- Some combination of the above, or other, factors.
Searching NHTSA’s Online Interpretation Files
Before beginning a search, it’s important to understand how this online search works. Below we provide some examples of searches you can run. In some cases, the search results may include words similar to what you searched because it utilizes a fuzzy search algorithm.
Single word search
Example: car
Result: Any document containing that word.
Multiple word search
Example: car seat requirements
Result: Any document containing any of these words.
Connector word search
Example: car AND seat AND requirements
Result: Any document containing all of these words.
Note: Search operators such as AND or OR must be in all capital letters.
Phrase in double quotes
Example: "headlamp function"
Result: Any document with that phrase.
Conjunctive search
Example: functionally AND minima
Result: Any document with both of those words.
Wildcard
Example: headl*
Result: Any document with a word beginning with those letters (e.g., headlamp, headlight, headlamps).
Example: no*compl*
Result: Any document beginning with the letters “no” followed by the letters “compl” (e.g., noncompliance, non-complying).
Not
Example: headlamp NOT crash
Result: Any document containing the word “headlamp” and not the word “crash.”
Complex searches
You can combine search operators to write more targeted searches.
Note: The database does not currently support phrase searches with wildcards (e.g., “make* inoperative”).
Example: Headl* AND (supplement* OR auxiliary OR impair*)
Result: Any document containing words that are variants of “headlamp” (headlamp, headlights, etc.) and also containing a variant of “supplement” (supplement, supplemental, etc.) or “impair” (impair, impairment, etc.) or the word “auxiliary.”
Search Tool
NHTSA's Interpretation Files Search
| Interpretations | Date |
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ID: aiam0738OpenCEAT S.p.A., Torino, Casella Postale 509; CEAT S.p.A. Torino Casella Postale 509; Gentlemen: This is in reply to your letter of May 15, 1972, inquiring whether th State of Maryland may require tires to be labeled with a 'VI' marking.; Section 103(d) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 1 U.S.C. 1392(d), provides in pertinent part:; >>>'Whenever a Federal motor vehicle safety standard established unde this title is in effect, no state or political subdivision of a State shall have any authority either to establish, or to continue in effect, with respect to any motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment andy safety standard applicable to the same aspect of performance of such vehicle or item of equipment which is not identical with the Federal standard.'<<<; This provision, considered with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standar No. 109, prohibits the State of Maryland or any State from imposing any safety labeling requirements, for passenger car tires other than those contained in that Federal standard. Any differing safety labeling requirements include the 'VI' you mentioned, are thus preempted void.; Sincerely, Lawrence R. Schneider, Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam1980OpenMr. Ray Hartman, Crown Coach Corporation, 2500 East Twelfth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021; Mr. Ray Hartman Crown Coach Corporation 2500 East Twelfth Street Los Angeles CA 90021; Dear Mr. Hartman: This is in response to your letter of June 26 in which you request clarification of the definition of 'date of manufacture' as that term is found in Section 567.4 of the certification regulations.; As your vehicles are not manufactured in two or more stages, you ar subject to the requirements of Section 567.4 with respect to certification. Section 567.4(g)(2) specifies the month and year of manufacture as 'the time during which work was completed at the place of main assembly of the vehicle.' This is when the vehicle is finished by you. The vehicle should be certified as meeting all of the Federal motor vehicle safety standards applicable as of that date.; We trust that the above information is of assistance. If you have an further inquiries, please let us know.; Sincerely, Richard B. Dyson, Assistant Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam0692OpenMr. O. L. Pierson, Legal Department, Rohm and Haas Company, Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA, 19105; Mr. O. L. Pierson Legal Department Rohm and Haas Company Independence Mall West Philadelphia PA 19105; Dear Mr. Pierson: This is in reply to your letter of April 17, 1972, in which you as certain questions regarding Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302, 'Flammability of Interior Materials,' the proposed amendment to that standard (36 F.R. 9565, May 26, 1971), and future requirements for labeling of safety glazing. Your questions are restated below, followed in each case by our response.; >>>1. We have heard that clarifying amendments for MVSS 302 are bein prepared and may be promulgated soon. Can you tell us approximately when such information may be published?; An amendment to Standard No. 302, based upon the notice of May 26 1971, and other information that has been presented to the agency is currently in preparation, and we expect its issuance within the next several weeks.; 2. We are concerned about 1973 requirements for labeling of safet glazing. Will your identification requirements prevail over state regulations which require additional and/or different information?; The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that Federa motor vehicle safety standards preempt State requirements to the extent that those requirements differ from the Federal standard regarding the same aspect of performance. We cannot determine whether specific State labeling requirements would be preempted by present or future Federal requirements without knowing specifically what the State requirements might be.; 3. If an exception is made in Standard No. 302 for small plastic parts would that exception include light-transmitting parts such as clock dials and instrument dials.; Paragraph S4.1 of Standard No. 302, in enumerating those motor vehicl components which must meet the standard's requirements, does not list either of the components you mention. Accordingly, they are not subject to the standard unless they are 'designed to absorb energy on contact by occupants in the event of a crash,' which appears to be unlikely.<<<; Yours truly, Richard B. Dyson, Assistant Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam2355OpenMr. David E. Martin, Director, Automotive Safety Engineering, Environmental Activities Staff, General Motors Corporation, Warren, MI 48093; Mr. David E. Martin Director Automotive Safety Engineering Environmental Activities Staff General Motors Corporation Warren MI 48093; Dear Mr. Martin: It has come to the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safet Administration that General Motors Corporation is planning to include in its 1977 Cadillac incomplete vehicle document the following statement with respect to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 301-75, *Fuel System Integrity*:; >>>Conformity with FMVSS 301 is not substantially determined by th design of this incomplete vehicle and General Motors makes no representation as to conformity with this Standard.; The use of this statement would not comply with 49 CFR Part 568 *Vehicles Manufactured in Two or More Stages*.; A copy of the March 8, 1976, letter from Mr. W.J. Owen of the Cadilla Motor Car Division to Mr. R.B. Kurre of the Wayne Corporation is attached for your reference. That letter was included in the petition of Wayne's Miller-Meteor Division for a temporary exemption from Standard No. 301-75 as applied to ambulances and funeral coaches that Wayne manufactures using Cadillac commercial chassis.; I understand that these chassis are delivered to Wayne with the fue system components already installed, that Wayne removes certain components in order to mount the body and that those components are reinstalled after the mounting of the body.; The incomplete vehicle document is required by S568.4(a)(7) to includ a--; >>>[l]isting (sic) by number of each standard...followed in each cas by one of the following types of statement, as applicable:; (i) A statement that the vehicle when completed will conform to th standard if no alterations are made in identified components of the incomplete vehicle. ...; (ii) A statement of specific conditions of final manufacture unde which the manufacturer specifies that the completed vehicle will conform to the standard. ...; (iii) A statement that conformity with the standard is no substantially determined by the design of the incomplete vehicle, and that the incomplete vehicle manufacturer makes no representation as to conformity with the standard.<<<; There is a factual limitation on use of the third statement. It may no be used for standards conformity to which is substantially determined by the design of the incomplete vehicle. Where the basic fuel system components, including fuel tank and lines and filler pipe, are included in the incomplete vehicles, compliance of the completed vehicle with Standard No. 301-75 is substantially determined by both the design of the incomplete vehicle and the manner of completion by the final stage manufacturer. Therefore, General Motors is required to include a statement of the first or second type with respect to Standard No. 301-75 in the incomplete vehicle documents accompanying Cadillac commercial chassis that are manufactured on or after September 1, 1976, and designed for completion into multipurpose passenger vehicles. Such chassis that are manufactured before that date are not required by Part 568 to include any statement concerning Standard No. 301-75, because there are no fuel system integrity requirements for multipurpose passenger vehicles until that date.; The above discussion also applies to any other commercial chassi manufactured by General Motors for sale as incomplete vehicles.; Yours truly, Frank Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam5490OpenMr. Richard Kreutziger Executive Director NYSBDA 1111 Lac De Ville Boulevard Apartment No. 309 Rochester, NY 14618; Mr. Richard Kreutziger Executive Director NYSBDA 1111 Lac De Ville Boulevard Apartment No. 309 Rochester NY 14618; "Dear Mr. Kreutziger: This responds to your letter of January 3, 1995 telefaxed to Walter Myers of my staff in which you asked whether the bottom edge of a flip-up school bus seat, when in the vertical position, could extend past the rearward edge of a side emergency exit door a maximum of 3/4 inch. The short answer to your question is no. You enclosed with your letter a copy of Figure 5B of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 217, Bus emergency exits and window retention and release, which shows the permitted positions of the seats forward and rearward of a school bus side emergency exit door. You drew in a depiction of the flip- up seat bottom showing the seat bottom extending into the access aisle a maximum of 3/4 inch. You stated that even with such intrusion, 11.75 inches of clear aisle space remains without obstruction of the door release mechanism. Paragraph S5.4.2.1(a)(2)(i) of FMVSS No. 217 provides that no seat or restraining barrier shall be installed within the area bounded by a vertical transverse plane tangent to the rearward edge of the door opening frame and a vertical transverse plane parallel to that plane at a distance of 30 centimeters forward of that plane. Paragraph S5.4.2.1(a)(2)(ii) then provides: A seat bottom may be located within the area described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section if the seat bottom pivots and automatically assumes and retains a vertical position when not in use, so that no portion of the seat bottom is within the area described in paragraph (i) when the seat bottom is vertical. (See Figure 5B). (Emphasis added). This requirement for a specific minimum aisle space leading to side emergency exit doors on school buses was contained in the final rule issued by this agency on November 2, 1992 (57 FR 49413) to permit bus occupants unobstructed access to the emergency exit door. The language is very clear. No variation from that requirement is permitted. I hope this information is helpful to you. Should you have any further questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Mr. Myers at this address or at (202) 366-2992. Sincerely, Philip R. Recht Chief Counsel"; |
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ID: aiam0368OpenDouglas H. West, Esquire, Messrs. Hill, Lewis, Adams, Goodrich & Tait, 3700 Penobscot Building, Detroit, MI 48226; Douglas H. West Esquire Messrs. Hill Lewis Adams Goodrich & Tait 3700 Penobscot Building Detroit MI 48226; Dear Mr. West: This is in reply to your letter of May 10 to Francis Armstrong Director of the Office of Standards Enforcement, on behalf of Vehicle Industries, Inc. Your client wishes to import dune buggy chasses (sic), either in kit or assembled form, for sale to a distributor-dealer organization and subsequent resale by them to retail customers who will complete the final manufacture of the incomplete vehicle as a dune buggy. You have asked questions concerning compliance with Federal motor vehicle safety standards ('safety standards') and other regulations.; Your letter indicates that you are familiar with our two Mini-Bik Interpretations and the criteria we use in determining whether a vehicle is a 'motor vehicle' as defined in section 102(3) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (the 'Act'). There have been no further additions to these Interpretations. We view a dune buggy as a 'motor vehicle' primarily because it is licensable for use on the public roads. Conversely all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and some categories of mini-bikes are not considered 'motor vehicles' because of State statutory prohibitions forbidding their registration for on-road use. Because a dune buggy is constructed with 'special features for occasional off-road use' it is a 'multipurpose passenger vehicle' ('MPV') under the safety standards, and must, at the time of its manufacture, comply with all safety standards applicable to MPVs. Equipping a vehicle with speed restrictive components would not affect this opinion unless the equipment rendered the completed vehicle unlicensable for on-road use.; Until January 1, 1972, the product Vehicle Industries wishes to import either in kit form or as an assemblage, is considered 'motor vehicle equipment' under the Act. It is not a chassis- cab, as you suggested, because it has no cab. Since section 102(5) of the Act includes an importer in the definition of 'manufacturer,' Vehicle Industries is considered the manufacturer of the motor vehicle equipment it imports, and responsible for compliance of that equipment with applicable safety standards.; Regulated equipment items for MPVs and corresponding safety standard are: brake hoses and brake hose assemblies (Standard No. 106), brake fluid (No. 116), glazing (No. 205), seat belt assemblies (No. 209), and wheel covers (No. 211). If the kit or assemblage contains any of these items, the item must comply upon importation, and Vehicle Industries must provide certification to the distributor-dealer that the equipment item meets the appropriate safety standard. The certification obligation is imposed by section 114 of the Act as amplified by a notice published on November 4, 1967, copy enclosed. There are no other labeling or informational obligations. The requirements of this paragraph remain in effect after January 1, 1972, to any dune buggy chassis imported in kit form.; If the chassis is imported in assembled form, on and after January 1 1972, Vehicle Industries as importer-manufacturer of an assemblage will be considered an 'incomplete vehicle manufacturer' and the assemblage an 'incomplete vehicle' as those terms are defined in 49 CFR Part 568, the regulations governing vehicles manufactured in two or more stages. I enclose a copy of Part 568 for your guidance and call your attention to S 568.4, requirements for incomplete vehicle manufacturers. Section 568.4(a)(7) will require Vehicle Industries to provide with the incomplete vehicle a list of those standards applicable to MPVs together with one of three appropriate statements for each such standard. If Vehicle Industries has provided certification prior to January 1, 1972, covering an equipment item in the assemblage, for instance brake hoses, the appropriate statement on and after January 1, 1972 would appear to be set out in S 568.4(a)(7)(i), that the vehicle when completed will comply with Standard No. 106, *Brake Hose and Brake Hose Assemblies*, if the final assembler makes no change in the brake hoses or brake hose assemblies. You ask if these regulations may be followed as a 'guideline' before January 1, 1972, because the S 568.4(a)(7)(i) statement is a representation of compliance, it is a *de facto* certification of compliance and, in my opinion, Vehicle Industries may provide such a S568.4(a)(7)(i) statement in advance of January 1, 1972, that includes a regulated equipment item, to satisfy the existing equipment certification requirement.; You have also asked if it is possible to 'retail the unit in it present form with an item of equipment on it' that doesn't comply with the safety standards. The answer is no, if that item is directly regulated by a safety standard. However, if a safety standard applies to vehicle categories only - and most of them do - then an item encompassed in that safety standard need not comply until time of final assembly. For example, Standard No. 107, *Reflecting Surfaces*, applies to MPVs and passenger cars, and not to the equipment items specified therein. Consequently, the horn ring and steering wheel assembly hub of the assemblage need not have a finish in accordance with standard No. 107, but these items must comply with reflectance requirements when the assemblage is completed as a dune buggy.; In closing, I want to call your attention to Section 110(e) of the Ac and 49 CFR S 551.45, which require that manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment who offer their products for importation into the United States appoint a resident agent for service of process. I enclose a copy of S 551.45 with the informational requirements underlined and request that you ask the Spanish manufacturer of the dune buggy chassis to file a designation of agent with us.; If you have any further questions I shall be happy to answer them fo you.; Sincerely, Lawrence R. Schneider, Acting Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam1129OpenHonorable Warren G. Magnuson, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510; Honorable Warren G. Magnuson United States Senate Washington DC 20510; Dear Senator Magnuson: You wrote shortly after Mr. Toms' briefing on passive restrain technology to request my views on the implementation of Standard 208. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has taken a number of steps to lay the groundwork for sound decisions on this subject. I want to outline those steps for you and describe our policy regarding interim restraint systems.; As a result of the decision in *Chrysler* v. *Department o Transportation*, the principal focus of NHTSA has been on the test dummy used in Standard 208. Work has now progressed to the point of proposing a new test dummy specification, on which NHTSA is requesting comments. The court in *Chrysler* instructed NHTSA to delay the effective date for the implementation of passive restraints until a reasonable time after test dummy specifications are issued. Thus, NHTSA is obliged to consider the comments it receives on the dummy in forming its judgment as to when passive restraints should be required.; In order to enable a large scale passive restraint evaluation to b conducted, the agency has proposed to adopt the new dummy proposal as part of the optional passive restraint systems allowed after August 1973. This step will allow a manufacturer such as General Motors, which has plans for building up to 100,000 air bag equipped cars in model year 1974, to proceed with its plans.; During the period in which active and passive restraint options ar available to manufacturers, NHTSA will continue its efforts to increase seat belt usage. Standard 208 now requires seat belt interlock systems as the alternative to passive systems. In a decision announced on April 20, the agency rejected petitions from several manufacturers to delete the interlock system and reaffirmed its position that the interlock is an appropriate means of increasing belt usage.; The Department is making every effort to increase seat belt use, bot through the encouragement of mandatory usage laws and through the provision of devices such as the interlock. We expect that such measures will contribute to a reduction in the rate of death and injury on our highways.; Sincerely, Claude S. Brinegar |
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ID: aiam3114OpenMr. Ronald P. Mitchell, Executive Vice President, Phillips Motor Car Corporation, 1301 West Copan Road, Suite 3E, Pompano Beach, CA 33046; Mr. Ronald P. Mitchell Executive Vice President Phillips Motor Car Corporation 1301 West Copan Road Suite 3E Pompano Beach CA 33046; Dear Mr. Mitchell: This is in reply to your letter of September 22, 1979, asking whethe Phillips Motor Car Corporation is a 'manufacturer' or 'alterer' of the Berlina Coupe.; As you have described it, Phillips removes the body from a 198 Corvette, lengthens the frame and install (sic) newly manufactured body parts, retaining the interior safety features of the original vehicle.; It is clear from your description that Phillips alters previousl certified vehicles 'other than by the addition, substitution, or removal of readily attachable components such as mirrors or tires and rim assemblies ...' and is, therefore, subject to the certification requirements of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 567.7. I enclose a copy of the regulation for your information and would be pleased to answer such further questions as you may have.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam1083OpenMr. George H. Jones, Executive Secretary, Independent Tire Dealer, P.O. Box 2835A, Birmingham, Alabama 35212; Mr. George H. Jones Executive Secretary Independent Tire Dealer P.O. Box 2835A Birmingham Alabama 35212; Dear Mr. Jones: This is in reply to your letter of February 26, 1973, requesting ou view of your booklet on Standard No. 117. We have the following comments.; On page 2, under the heading, 'Does a Retread Have to Pass All Thes Tests', you refer to a lack of availability of test wheels. On page 3, under the heading, 'How Expensive Could Testing Get?', you quote figures of $250.00 to $400.00. As you know, the standard no longer includes the high speed and endurance Tests, and while there are other laboratory test involved in testing strength and bead unseating, neither includes the use of the laboratory test wheel. Consequently, insofar as your statements may take into account laboratory wheel tests, they should be modified.; On page 3, under the heading, 'What if One Certified Doesn't Comply?' you state, 'If the tire was not produced with due care then you will have both a recall and the probability of a penalty being assessed.' Notification of defects to first purchasers, however, is not contingent upon a showing of due care, and must be made even if a manufacturer used due care. Whether a manufacturer exercises due care is relevant only to whether he is in violation of the ACT, and to civil penalties, but not to defect notification (recall). The reason is that a retreader's exercise of due care doesn't change the fact that potentially unsafe tires will be used unless their owners are notified.; On page 4, under the Heading, 'Must You Submit Information On Defect and Failures?': Under section 113(d) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (as amended in 1970), each retreader must furnish NHTSA with a true and representative copy of all notices, bulletins, or other communications sent either to dealers or purchasers with regard to any defect in his tires. This requirements applies to all defects, and you should review it. It is incorrect to say that retreaders are not required to submit information regarding defects to NHTSA.; On page 4, under 'What Casing Controls are Required?', you indicat that no tire may be retreaded which has exposed ply cord. However, the standard allows ply cord to be exposed at a splice (S5.2.1(b)). While you make this point later, on page 5, the way in which you do so seems more to contradict than clarify your earlier statement. We suggest you indicate that ply cord may be exposed at a splice in the earlier paragraph as well. The same thing can be said for the next section on page 4, 'May Tires With Exposed Ply Cord be Retreaded?' This section is also completely silent on the exception for ply cord at a splice, and should also be modified.; On page 4, under the heading, 'What are Restrictions on Good Casings?' you omit certain requirements. Casings without a symbol DOT that are to be retreaded must only be of those size designations specified in the table at the end of the standard. These casings must also have permanently labeled on them the size, and number of plies or ply rating. Both of these information items and the symbol 'DOT' must also be permanently labeled on each DOT casing that is to be retreaded.; On page 5, under the heading, 'Should We Use Affixed Labels o Permanent Molding On Tire?', the minimum size for permanent labeling under S6.3.2 has been changed to 0.0078 inches. This change does not, however, affect affixed labels.; On page 6, under the heading, 'Is Any Provision Made For Sizin Difference in Retreads?', you state a retread may be 10% over new tire physical and dimension requirements. The 10% allowance for section width is to be calculated on the section width specified in the Tables of Standard No. 109, for the tire size designation. New tires are allowed to exceed this figure by 7%. Consequently, retreads can exceed the new tire requirements by only 3% (10% of the table figure). To say they can exceed the new tire requirement by 10% may mislead some persons into thinking they can exceed the value in the table by 17% which, of course, is not correct.; Apart from these points, your booklet appears to us to be essentiall correct. It should prove helpful to retreaders.; Yours truly, Richard B. Dyson, Assistant Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam4281OpenMr. M.B. Mathieson, Director of Engineering, Thomas Built Buses, L.P., P. O. Box 2450, High Point, NC 27261; Mr. M.B. Mathieson Director of Engineering Thomas Built Buses L.P. P. O. Box 2450 High Point NC 27261; Dear Mr. Mathieson: This is in reply to your letters to Francis Armstrong, Robert Williams and Taylor Vinson, all of this agency. I regret the delay in this reply. In summary, Thomas wishes to mount a body of its construction to a 'General Motors chassis model; G31303, certified by G.M. to have a 10,000 1lbs. maximum GVWR .' Tw prototypes have been operating. In testing for compliance with the frontal impact requirements of Standard No. 301, the rate of fuel leakage from a pinched or broken fuel line greatly exceeded the amount permitted by the standard. The test conducted by Thomas used sandbags to simulate occupant loading, and the impact velocity was reported to be 30.4 m.p.h. You have asked the following four questions:; '1. Does the result of the frontal barrier crash test with th discovered fuel leak constitute a safety defect?'; '2. Does the result of the frontal barrier crash test with th discovered fuel leak constitute an apparent or alleged noncompliance with FMVSS 301 requirement?'; The result of the frontal barrier crash test do not constitute a alleged or apparent noncompliance with Standard No. 301 as the impact velocity exceeded the 30 m.p.h. maximum test requirement. In addition, the vehicle's test weight in your test exceeded the test weight specified in S7.1.6(b) of the standard. Further, those results do not constitute a safety related defect regardless of the use of the vehicle. For NHTSA to find a safety related defect at 30.4 m.p.h. would be the equivalent of imposing a new standard without following Administrative Procedure Act requirements for rulemaking.; However, in our view, Thomas could not in good faith certify complianc of the completed bus with the 30 m.p.h. requirements if there was a failure when a correctly loaded bus was tested at 30.4 m.p.h and no counterbalancing data showing passes in other tests. Had NHTSA conducted a test at 30.4 m.p.h. and found a failure, it would have proceeded to conduct another test in accordance with the specifications of Standard No. 301 and test at a speed slightly less than 30 m.p.h. and with a Part 572 dummy in the driver's seat.; >>>3. 'What is NHTSA's interpretation of the correct vehicle tes weight for FMVSS 301 certification testing of school buses and non school buses for vehicles in the under and up to 10,000 lbs.' class and equipped with seat belts required to comply with FMVSS 208?'<<<; The test weight is set forth in paragraph S7.1.6(b) of Standard No 301. That section provides that a 'bus with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less is loaded to its unloaded vehicle weight, plus the necessary test dummies as specified in S6., plus 300 pounds or its rated cargo load and luggage capacity weight, whichever is less,....'; >>>4. 'If Thomas Built Buses performs a certification test to th requirements of FMVSS 301 with a similar vehicle (equipped with required seat belts which are required to comply with FMVSS 208) at a test weight as noted by GM (approximately 7,500 pounds) and the results show full compliance, what is the legal status or implication of completing and offering for sale this type of vehicle at a GVWR of up to 10,000 lbs. and indicating that it complies with FMVSS 301 on the basis of a successful test at the lower GVWR.'<<<; This question cannot be answered because the facts stated in you question appear to be incorrect. Our review of the documentation you enclosed shows that GM has rated the incomplete vehicle at 10,000 pounds GVWR, rather than at approximately 7,500 pounds GVWR, as stated in your letter. GM has, however, specified the maximum unloaded vehicle weight as 6866 pounds, and stated that the completed vehicle will comply if its unloaded vehicle weight does not exceed this amount. It has also stated that the maximum unloaded vehicle weight plus 634 pounds (which, when added to 6866 pounds equals 7500 pounds) cannot exceed the vehicle's GVWR, which is 10,000 pounds in this case. GM therefore has made no weights outside those values, and the burden of certification falls upon the final state manufacturer who completers the vehicle in a manner outside the limits cited by GM.; I hope that this answers your questions. Sincerely, Erika Z. Jones, Chief Counsel |
Request an Interpretation
You may email your request to Interpretations.NHTSA@dot.gov or send your request in hard copy to:
The Chief Counsel
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, W41-326
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
If you want to talk to someone at NHTSA about what a request for interpretation should include, call the Office of the Chief Counsel at 202-366-2992.
Please note that NHTSA’s response will be made available in this online database, and that the incoming interpretation request may also be made publicly available.