[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37108-37109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18016]


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[[Page 37109]]


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-082; Notice 01]


General Motors Corporation; Receipt of Application for Decision 
of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    The Buick Division of the General Motors Corporation (GM), of 
Warren, Michigan, has determined that certain 1996 Buick Skylark cars 
fail to conform to the requirements of 49 CFR 571.108, Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108, ``Lamps, Reflective Devices and 
Associated Equipment,'' and has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 
49 CFR Part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance Reports.'' GM has also 
applied to be exempted from the notification and remedy requirements of 
49 U.S.C. Chapter 301--``Motor Vehicle Safety'' on the basis that the 
noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
    This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49 
U.S.C. 30118(d) and does not represent any agency decision or other 
exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the application.
    In FMVSS No. 108, Paragraph S5.1.1.5 states that ``the turn signal 
operating unit on each passenger car, . . . shall be self-canceling by 
steering wheel rotation and capable of cancellation by a manually 
operated control.''
    Certain 1996 model year Buick Skylark cars were assembled with a 
defective multi-function switch, which causes the turn signal self-
cancel feature to work intermittently after left turns. As a result, 
the turn signal does not meet the requirements of S5.1.1.5. GM stated 
that while all of the subject vehicles meet the latter requirement, 
some may intermittently fail to meet the self cancel requirement.
    GM first became aware of this condition during a railhead audit in 
August of 1995. Once the condition was discovered, multiple inspections 
for suspect switches were immediately implemented, both at the assembly 
plant and by the supplier, and breakpoints were established. A total of 
1,969 vehicles were built with suspect switches.
    GM supported its application for inconsequential noncompliance with 
the following:

     No more than 5.5 percent of the 1.969 vehicles, or 108 
vehicles, are predicted to have a defective switch. This prediction 
is based on a sort of 400 switches, of which 22 were determined to 
possibly be suspect. This projection may overstate the field 
condition since the sort was very conservative; many of the suspect 
22 switches may function properly in vehicles. In addition, the 
projection is based on a sort of the latest shipments of switches 
before the supplier corrected its manufacturing problem. Since the 
condition was caused by tooling dimensions drifting out of 
specification, the actual rate of defective switches for the entire 
production run may well be less than the projected rate.
     The self-cancel feature will operate properly for a 
majority of turn signal activations even on vehicles with a 
defective switch. The self-canceling feature works correctly when 
signaling for all right turns, as well as for some left turns. The 
switch is sensitive to the rate of turn signal lever actuation and 
position of the steering wheel, and will not cancel only 
intermittently, for some left hand turns. On one of the vehicles 
discovered with this condition, it took about 20 turn signal cycles 
to recreate the failure.
     All 1996 Skylarks have a turn signal reminder chime 
that will signal the driver if the turn signal indicator is still on 
after 1/2 mile of driving. Therefore, even in those instances when 
the self-cancel feature fails, the driver will get an additional cue 
that the turn signal is on and deactivate it.
     GM is not aware of any accidents, injuries, owner 
complaints or field reports associated with this condition.

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on the application of GM, described above. Comments should 
refer to the docket number and be submitted to: Docket Section, 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW, Washington, D.C., 20590. It is requested but not required 
that six copies be submitted.
    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting 
materials and all comments received after the closing date will also be 
filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the 
application is granted or denied, the notice will be published in the 
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below. Comment 
closing date: August 15, 1996.

(49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 
501.8)

    Issued on: July 11, 1996.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 96-18016 Filed 7-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P