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Interpretation ID: nht93-4.23

DATE: June 4, 1993

FROM: Margaret W. Mouzon -- Mouzon Information Services

TO: Mary Versailles -- Office of the General Counsel, NHTSA

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 7/21/93 from John Womack to Margaret W. Mouzon (A41; Std. 208; VSA 108(b)(1)), letter dated 3/4/93 from John Womack to Robert A. Ernst, and letter dated 1/19/90 from Stephen P. Wood to Linda L. Conrad (Std. 208)

TEXT:

Could you please describe and provide and interpretation of any federal regulations regarding dealer responsibility for occupant restraint system installations?

For example, if a new or used car dealer sells a used car with an occupant restraint system which has been rendered inoperable, for example, a deployed airbag, does the dealer have to restore the restraint system to its original condition before delivering the vehicle to the purchaser?

What if the dealer is selling the showroom model or demonstration model of an otherwise "new" vehicle, does the occupant restraint system have to be operable?

I would much appreciate a response to these questions.

Thank you very much for your assistance.