December 10, 2024

February 11, 2022—NHTSA Published in the Federal Register a Final Rule Amending the Compressed Natural Gas Fuel Container Integrity Safety Standard, (FMVSS 304, 49 CFR 571.304)

DATES: The effective date of this Amendment is March 14, 2022.  The compliance date for this Amendment is March 14, 2023.  Any Petitions for Reconsideration of this Final Rule must be filed on or before March 28, 2022.

SUMMARY:  This Final Rule modifies the visual inspection interval on vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) from the currently specified interval of  ‘‘at least every 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first,’’ to ‘‘at least every 12 months.  Because these vehicles frequently travel far in excess of 36,000 miles per year, this change will eliminate the need to perform unnecessary multiple visual inspections of their vehicles’ CNG fuel containers per year.  For the complete notice go to: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-02-11/pdf/2022-02588.pdf

On June 2, 2020, NHTSA Reopened the Comment Period on the Hybrid III 5th Percentile Female Anthropomorphic Test Dummy (49 CFR 572; Docket No; NHTSA-2019-0023)

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before August 3, 2020.

BACKGROUND:  The comment period was reopened because of public requests.  In addition, NHTSA is also docketing a document describing procedures it has developed to measure SAE chest jackets already in use in the field in order to assess the uniformity of the jackets and to determine jacket dimensions and tolerances to be specified in the Final Rule

On March 20, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it will soon be revising the 573 Recall Report form in the Manufacturer Recalls Portal to include a new section, labeled “Involved Components.”

NHTSA ANNOUNCEMENT–The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will soon be revising the 573 Recall Report form in the Manufacturer Recalls Portal to include a new section, labeled “Involved Components.” This section will contain three component-related fields: Component Name, Component Description, and Component Part Number, to be used to supply the information relating to the specific component(s) or software involved in the recall.

Previously, NHTSA requested this information in the “Identify the Remedy” area of the form. This upcoming change will assist in compliance with 49 U.S. Code § 30119(g).

(g) Information Regarding Components Involved in Recall.—A manufacturer that is required to furnish a report under section 573.6 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation) for a defect or noncompliance in a motor vehicle or in an item of original or replacement equipment shall, if such defect or noncompliance involves a specific component or components, include in such report, with respect to such component or components, the following information:
 
(1) The name of the component or components.
 
(2) A description of the component or components.
 
(3) The part number of the component or components, if any.

Please note that the revised form will allow for the entry of multiple components via a plus-sign icon (“+”).

Thank you,

Recalls Portal Helpdesk
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)  

On January 7, 2020, NHTSA Published an NPRM on Replica Motor Vehicles; Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Requirements; Manufacturer Identification; Certification 49 CFR Parts 565, 566, 567, and 586

DATES:  Comments should be filed on or before February 6, 2020.

This Rulemaking is mandated by the FAST Act, which requires NHTSA to exempt certain replica vehicles manufactured low volume vehicle manufacturers from Safety Standards.  The proposed rule would provide a framework to allow low volume replica motor vehicle manufacturers to safely provide 350 or fewer vehicles annually into interstate commerce. 

NHTSA believes a  shorter comment period is in the public interest because it will allow NHTSA to issue a final rule more quickly and allow qualifying low-volume manufacturers to begin manufacturing replica motor vehicles sooner. NHTSA does not believe a longer comment period is necessary for the public to consider this proposal because most of the proposed requirements are mandated or contemplated by the FAST Act.   

On November 26, 2019, NHTSA Published Its Decision to Grant the Petitions for Reconsideration of the Final Rule it Published on October 2nd Regarding Odometer Disclosure Requirements (49 CFR 580)

NHTSA’s October 2, 2019, final rule amended its odometer disclosure requirements to allow States to adopt electronic odometer disclosure systems and changing the time when vehicles become exempt from federal odometer disclosure requirements from ten years to twenty years.

The America Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) and the State of Delaware Department of Transportation filed petitions requesting that the agency delay the effective date of the changes to the exemptions from odometer disclosure requirements for one year.  NHTSA granted these petitions. 

DATES: The effective date of the rule allowing States to adopt electronic odometer disclosure systems is still December 31,2019.  However, the change to the exemption from the odometer disclosure requirements will take effect on January 1, 2021 and will apply to model year 2011 and newer vehicles.  Petitions for Reconsideration of this notice must be filed on or before January 10, 2020.