Interpretation ID: nht69-2.46

DATE: 09/25/69

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Lawrence R. Schneider; NHTSA

TO: Toyota Motor Company Ltd.

TITLE: FMVSR INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is to confirm the information given to you by Mr. Richard Dyson of this office by telephone on September 19, 1969, concerning the consumer information regulations, in response to your telegram of September 15.

Your understanding of section 375.106, Acceleration and Passing is correct. The acceleration interval may be begun in any gear, and the gears may be shifted during the interval.

You also asked how long "manufacturers are responsible after the sale of a vehicle for the information they provide." The regulations apply to manufacturers, so that strictly speaking the information is only required to be correct for vehicles at the point of sale to a person for purposes other than resale -- as is the case with the Standards. In other words, there is no implied requirement in regard to vehicle degradation with use. If a vehicle in use were found not to perform in accordance with the consumer information, however, (or not to conform to standards) that fact might be strong evidence of a violation by the manufacturer in the design or production of the vehicle.

You should also note that the consumer information regulations relating to braking and acceleration performance specify that a period of burnishing or breaking in shall be completed before the performance is measured.[Illegible Page)[Illegible Page)