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: aiam2427OpenMr. Charles G. Atkinson, President, Southern California Recreational Vehicle Products, Inc., 2449 North Naomi Street, Burbank, CA 91504; Mr. Charles G. Atkinson President Southern California Recreational Vehicle Products Inc. 2449 North Naomi Street Burbank CA 91504; Dear Mr. Atkinson: This is in response to your September 15, 1976 letter, concerning th effect of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 301-75, *Fuel System Integrity*, on manufacturers of replacement and auxiliary fuel tanks.; You are correct in your understanding that this standard applies t completed vehicles, rather than fuel tanks or other fuel system components. Therefore, for example, an auxiliary fuel tank that you manufacture is not itself subject to any performance requirements. However, a person who mounts such an auxiliary fuel tank on a new motor vehicle before the vehicle's first purchase in good faith for purposes other than resale is a vehicle alterer under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulations. He is required by 49 CFR 567.7 (copy enclosed) to affix a label to the vehicle certifying that, *as altered*, the vehicle conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards--including Standard No. 301-75.; In addition, the mounting of an auxiliary or replacement fuel tank on motor vehicle after the vehicle's first purchase in good faith for purposes other than resale is affected by Section 108(a)(2)(A) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1397 (a)(2)(A)). That section specifies in relevant part that; >>>No manufacturer, distributor, dealer or motor vehicle repai business shall *knowingly render inoperative*, in whole or part, any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment in compliance with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard... . (Emphasis added.); Therefore, such a mounting of an auxiliary or replacement fuel tan must be performed in such a way that the vehicle's compliance with Standard No. 301-75 is not knowingly compromised.; Sincerely, Frank A Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam2732OpenMr. Takashi Shimoda, Nichirin Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd., 1118, Sazuchi, Bessho, Himeji, Japan; Mr. Takashi Shimoda Nichirin Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. 1118 Sazuchi Bessho Himeji Japan; Dear Mr. Shimoda: This responds to your letter dated November 29, 1977, asking about th procedures for obtaining approval of hydraulic brake hoses. Your company is altering the labeling on some of its hose and asks whether the hose must be retested and whether notice of the changes must be given.; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) does no approve in advance motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment. It is up to manufacturers to certify that their products comply with all applicable safety standards and regulations. The NHTSA conducts compliance testing for purposes of enforcement.; It is, therefore, up to your company to decide whether to test its hos according to the procedures specified in Safety Standard No. 106, *Brake Hoses*. The NHTSA only requires that you determine in the exercise of due care that the hose meets all requirements specified in the standard. Further, you do not have to give the NHTSA notice when you change the labeling information on your hose, unless you change the designation identifying your company. In that case, the new designation would have to be filed with the NHTSA according to the specifications of paragraph S5.2.2(b) of Standard 106.; You will have to contact the American Association of Motor Vehicl Administrators directly to determine their requirements for approval and notification following your labeling changes.; Please contact me if our office can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, Joseph J. Levin, Jr., Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam2884OpenHarry A. Carson, McClintock Donovan Carson & Roach, Gardian Building, Detroit, MI 48226; Harry A. Carson McClintock Donovan Carson & Roach Gardian Building Detroit MI 48226; Dear Mr. Carson: This is in response to your letter of September 1, 1978, requestin information on the Federal odometer disclosure requirements. You specifically asked what a lessor's responsibility is with regard to the certifications on the disclosure statement. The lessor, as transferor of a vehicle, is required to certify, to the best of his knowledge, as to the accuracy of the vehicle's odometer. A lessor should assume that an odometer is accurate unless he has reason to believe otherwise. Any reasonable belief that the odometer is wrong should be reflected on the disclosure statement by checking, in the first set of certifications, either box 2 or 3, as appropriate. In situations where the lessor has no knowledge as to the accuracy of the odometer reading, he should *not* state that the mileage is in error because to the best of his knowledge it is correct.; With regard to the second set of certifications, the lessor shoul check box 1 unless he altered or knows that the lessee or some other person altered the odometer. Since your client is concerned about the possibility that the lessee may alter the odometer, he may find it advisable to protect himself by requiring the lessee to indemnify him in the event of liability under the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act. He may also add a statement on the disclosure form that the vehicle was subject to a lease or was otherwise outside of his control.; Sincerely, John Womack, Assistant Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam2733OpenMr. Takashi Shimoda, Nichirin Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd., 1118, Sazuchi, Bessho, Himeji, Japan; Mr. Takashi Shimoda Nichirin Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. 1118 Sazuchi Bessho Himeji Japan; Dear Mr. Shimoda: This responds to your letter dated November 29, 1977, asking about th procedures for obtaining approval of hydraulic brake hoses. Your company is altering the labeling on some of its hose and asks whether the hose must be retested and whether notice of the changes must be given.; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) does no approve in advance motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment. It is up to manufacturers to certify that their products comply with all applicable safety standards and regulations. The NHTSA conducts compliance testing for purposes of enforcement.; It is, therefore, up to your company to decide whether to test its hos according to the procedures specified in Safety Standard No. 106, *Brake Hoses*. The NHTSA only requires that you determine in the exercise of due care that the hose meets all requirements specified in the standard. Further, you do not have to give the NHTSA notice when you change the labeling information on your hose, unless you change the designation identifying your company. In that case, the new designation would have to be filed with the NHTSA according to the specifications of paragraph S5.2.2(b) of Standard 106.; You will have to contact the American Association of Motor Vehicl Administrators directly to determine their requirements for approval and notification following your labeling changes.; Please contact me if our office can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, Joseph J. Levin, Jr., Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam2249OpenMr. Dudley E. DeWitt, Manager R&D, Great Dane Trailers, Inc., Lathrop Avenue, P.O. Box 67, Savannah, GA 31402; Mr. Dudley E. DeWitt Manager R&D Great Dane Trailers Inc. Lathrop Avenue P.O. Box 67 Savannah GA 31402; Dear Mr. DeWitt: This responds to Great Dane Trailers' February 23, 1976, letter askin if a trailer equipped with one or more axles that have a gross axle weight rating (GAWR) of 24,000 pounds or more is excluded from the requirements of Standard No. 121, *Air Brake Systems*.; Section S3. of Standard No. 121 provides in part that any vehicl manufactured before September 1, 1977, that has a GAWR for any axle of 24,000 pounds or more is excluded from the standard. The determination of GAWR is made by the vehicle manufacturer (49 CFR 571.3) and must be based on the capabilities of the axle system at 60 mph. Because the determination is made by the vehicle manufacturer, the NHTSA is unable to say that the components you mention in your letter would necessarily constitute an axle system with a GAWR of 24,000 pounds.; Yours truly, Frank Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam5015OpenHerr Spingler Robert Bosch GmbH Geschaftsbereich K2 Entwicklung Lichttechnik Systeme Postfach 13 42 D-4710 Reutlingen Germany; Herr Spingler Robert Bosch GmbH Geschaftsbereich K2 Entwicklung Lichttechnik Systeme Postfach 13 42 D-4710 Reutlingen Germany; Dear Herr Spingler: This responds to your letter of April 3, 1992, t Mr. Van Iderstine of this agency asking for a 'quick answer' to your question regarding the acceptability of a new headlamp design. Please be advised that my Office is the one to which questions of interpretation of Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 should be addressed, and that correspondence addressed to the Chief Counsel allows us to respond more quickly to the concerns of the writer. We understand that you discussed the headlamp with Mr. Van Iderstine on his recent trip to Europe, and that it will be used in a replaceable bulb headlighting system that is governed by S7.5 of Standard No. 108. Your proposed headlamp incorporates a lower beam provided by an ellipsoid and an upper beam provided by a parabola. The drawing you enclosed shows the lower beam source above the upper beam source. When the upper beam is on, both bulbs will be activated simultaneously. Where, as in your design, each headlamp contains two light sources, S7.5(d)(2)(i)(A) and S7.5(e)(2)(i)(A) specify that the lower beam shall be provided by the outboard or uppermost light source. S7.5(d)(2)(ii)(A) and (B) and S7.5(e)(2)(ii)(A) and (B) specify that the upper beam shall be produced by the lowermost, or both, light sources. The beams in your headlamp are provided in this manner, and, therefore, are in accordance with the requirements of Standard No. 108. Sincerely, Paul Jackson Rice Chief Counsel; |
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ID: aiam3585OpenMr. Ron Gustafson, Furudals Buruks Kursinternat, 790 70 FURUDUAL Sweden; Mr. Ron Gustafson Furudals Buruks Kursinternat 790 70 FURUDUAL Sweden; Dear Mr. Gustafson: This responds to your letter of June 28, 1982, asking abou requirements applicable to child restraints sold in the United States as well as any necessary permits or licenses. You also asked about any U.S. testing organizations, procedures or standards for child restraints.; All child restraints sold in the U.S. must conform with the minimu performance requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, *Child Restraint Systems*. The standard also sets out the test procedures that are used to measure the performance of child restraints. There are no other performance requirements or test procedures applicable to child restraints. I am enclosing a copy of the standard.; You are not required to obtain a permit or license from this agenc prior to selling a child restraint in the U.S., nor are you required to obtain approval from any U.S. testing organization. As a manufacturer of motor vehicle equipment, you are required by Part 566, *Manufacturer Identification*, of our regulation to submit certain identifying information to the agency. I have enclosed a copy of Part 566.; In addition, you would be required by the National Traffic and Moto Vehicle Safety Act (15 U.S.C. S1392 *et seq*.) to certify that your child restraint complies with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Under the Act, you would also be responsible for conducting a notification and remedy campaign for any safety-related defect in your product. I am enclosing a copy of the Act, which defines your responsibilities as a manufacturer.; If you have any further questions, please let me know. Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam0036OpenMr. David A. Phelps, Jr., Engineering Services, Blue Bird Body Company, Fort Valley, GA 31030; Mr. David A. Phelps Jr. Engineering Services Blue Bird Body Company Fort Valley GA 31030; Dear Mr. Phelps: This is in response to your letter of November 10, 1967, in which yo requested a clarification of the use of the term 'combined optically' as used in Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, Sections S3.3(c) and S3.4.4.3.; S3.3(c)>>>*Lamp Combinations and Equipment Combinations*. Two or mor lamps, reflective devices, and items of associated equipment may be combined if the requirements for each lamp, reflective device, and item of associated equipment are met, except that --; (c) No clearance lamp may be combined optically with any taillamp o identification lamp.<<<; This means that no clearance lamp my be combined to use a lense (sic that is common to any other lamp such as a taillamp or identification lamp. The clearance lamp shall have a unique lense (sic).; S3.4.4.3>>>Stoplamps that are combined optically with turn signal lamp need not be operable when the combination is in use as a turn signal or as a vehicular hazard warning signal.<<<; This means that stoplamps that have a lense (sic) that is common wit the turn signal lamps do not have to be operable when the combined stoplamp and turn signal lamp is used primarily as a turn signal or as a hazard warning signal. Stoplamps need not be operable when the combined stoplamp and turn signal lamp unit is used as a hazard warning or turn signal indicator.; We trust these comments will be of assistance in clarifying you problems.; Sincerely, Andrew K. Ness, Acting Director, Office of Performanc Analysis; |
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ID: aiam3580OpenMr. Ron Gustafson, Furudals Buruks Kursinternat, 790 70 FURUDUAL Sweden; Mr. Ron Gustafson Furudals Buruks Kursinternat 790 70 FURUDUAL Sweden; Dear Mr. Gustafson: This responds to your letter of June 28, 1982, asking abou requirements applicable to child restraints sold in the United States as well as any necessary permits or licenses. You also asked about any U.S. testing organizations, procedures or standards for child restraints.; All child restraints sold in the U.S. must conform with the minimu performance requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, *Child Restraint Systems*. The standard also sets out the test procedures that are used to measure the performance of child restraints. There are no other performance requirements or test procedures applicable to child restraints. I am enclosing a copy of the standard.; You are not required to obtain a permit or license from this agenc prior to selling a child restraint in the U.S., nor are you required to obtain approval from any U.S. testing organization. As a manufacturer of motor vehicle equipment, you are required by Part 566, *Manufacturer Identification*, of our regulation to submit certain identifying information to the agency. I have enclosed a copy of Part 566.; In addition,m you would be required by the National Traffic and Moto Vehicle Safety Act (15 U.S.C. S1392 *et seq.*) to certify that your child restraint complies with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Under the Act, you would also be responsible for conducting a notification and remedy campaign for any safety-related defect in your product. I am enclosing a copy of the Act, which defines your responsibilities as a manufacturer.; If you have any further question, please let me know. Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam3581OpenMr. Ron Gustafson, Furudals Buruks Kursinternat, 790 70 FURUDUAL Sweden; Mr. Ron Gustafson Furudals Buruks Kursinternat 790 70 FURUDUAL Sweden; Dear Mr. Gustafson: This responds to your letter of June 28, 1982, asking abou requirements applicable to child restraints sold in the United States as well as any necessary permits or licenses. You also asked about any U.S. testing organizations, procedures or standards for child restraints.; All child restraints sold in the U.S. must conform with the minimu performance requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, *Child Restraint Systems*. The standard also sets out the test procedures that are used to measure the performance of child restraints. There are no other performance requirements or test procedures applicable to child restraints. I am enclosing a copy of the standard.; You are not required to obtain a permit or license from this agenc prior to selling a child restraint in the U.S., nor are you required to obtain approval from any U.S. testing organization. As a manufacturer of motor vehicle equipment, you are required by Part 566, *Manufacturer Identification*, of our regulation to submit certain identifying information to the agency. I have enclosed a copy of Part 566.; In addition,m you would be required by the National Traffic and Moto Vehicle Safety Act (15 U.S.C. S1392 *et seq.*) to certify that your child restraint complies with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Under the Act, you would also be responsible for conducting a notification and remedy campaign for any safety-related defect in your product. I am enclosing a copy of the Act, which defines your responsibilities as a manufacturer.; If you have any further question, please let me know. Sincerely, Frank Berndt, 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.