[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7945-7949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3671]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4683; Notice 01]
RIN 2127-AH35


Preliminary Theft Data; Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Publication of preliminary theft data; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document requests comments on data about passenger motor 
vehicle thefts that occurred in calendar year (CY) 1997, including 
theft rates for existing passenger motor vehicle lines manufactured in 
model year (MY) 1997. The theft data preliminarily indicate that the 
vehicle theft rate for CY/MY 1997 vehicles (3.11 thefts per thousand 
vehicles) decreased by 5.2 percent from the theft rate for CY/MY 1996 
vehicles (3.28 thefts per thousand vehicles).
    Publication of these data fulfills NHTSA's statutory obligation to 
periodically obtain accurate and timely theft data, and publish the 
information for review and comment.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: All comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number cited in the heading of this document and be submitted, 
preferably with two copies to: U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. 
Docket hours are from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rosalind Proctor, Office of 
Planning and Consumer Programs, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Proctor's telephone number is (202) 366-0846. 
Her fax number is (202) 493-2739.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA administers a program for reducing 
motor vehicle theft. The central feature of this program is the Federal 
Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard, 49 CFR part 541. The standard 
specifies performance requirements for inscribing or affixing vehicle 
identification numbers (VINs) onto certain major original equipment and 
replacement parts of high-theft lines of passenger motor vehicles.
    The agency is required by 49 U.S.C. 33104(b)(4) to periodically 
obtain, from the most reliable source, accurate and timely theft data, 
and publish the data for review and comment. To fulfill the section 
33104(b)(4) mandate, this document reports the preliminary theft data 
for CY 1997, the most recent calendar year for which data are 
available.
    In calculating the 1997 theft rates, NHTSA followed the same 
procedures it used in calculating the MY 1996 theft rates. (For 1996 
theft data calculations, see 63 FR 36478, July 6, 1998). As in all 
previous reports, NHTSA's data were based on information provided to 
the agency by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) of the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation. The NCIC is a governmental system that 
receives vehicle theft information from nearly 23,000 criminal justice 
agencies and other law enforcement authorities throughout the United 
States. The NCIC data also include reported thefts of self-insured and 
uninsured vehicles, not all of which are reported to other data 
sources.
    The 1997 theft rate for each vehicle line was calculated by 
dividing the number of reported thefts of MY 1997 vehicles of that line 
stolen during calendar year 1997, by the total number of vehicles in 
that line manufactured for MY 1997, as reported by manufacturers to the 
Environmental Protection Agency.
    The preliminary 1997 theft data show a decrease in the vehicle 
theft rate when compared to the theft rate experienced in CY/MY 1996. 
The preliminary theft rate for MY 1997 passenger vehicles stolen in 
calendar year 1997 decreased to 3.11 thefts per thousand vehicles 
produced, a decrease of 5.2 percent from the rate of 3.28 thefts per 
thousand vehicles experienced by MY 1996 vehicles in CY 1996. For MY 
1997 vehicles, out of a total of 203 vehicle lines, 71 lines had a 
theft rate higher than 3.5826 per thousand vehicles, the established 
median theft rate for MYs 1990/1991. (See 59 FR 12400, March 16, 1994). 
Of the 71 vehicle lines with a theft rate higher than 3.5826, 61 are 
passenger car lines, nine are multipurpose passenger vehicle lines, and 
one is a light-duty truck line.
    In Table I, NHTSA has tentatively ranked each of the MY 1997 
vehicle lines in descending order of theft rate. Public comment is 
sought on the accuracy of the data, including the data for the 
production volumes of individual vehicle lines.
    Comments must not exceed 15 pages in length (49 CFR 553.21). 
Attachments may be appended to these submissions without regard to the 
15 page limit. This limitation is intended to encourage

[[Page 7946]]

commenters to detail their primary arguments in a concise fashion.
    If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim 
of confidentiality, three copies of the complete submission, including 
purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to 
the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the street address given above, and two 
copies from which the purportedly confidential information has been 
deleted should be submitted to Dockets. A request for confidentiality 
should be accompanied by a cover letter setting forth the information 
specified in the agency's confidential business information regulation. 
49 CFR part 512.
    All comments received before the close of business on the comment 
closing date indicated above for this document will be considered, and 
will be available for examination in the docket at the above address 
both before and after that date. To the extent possible, comments filed 
after the closing date will also be considered. Comments on this 
document will be available for inspection in the docket. NHTSA will 
continue to file relevant information as it becomes available for 
inspection in the docket after the closing date, and it is recommended 
that interested persons continue to examine the docket for new 
material.
    Those persons desiring to be notified upon receipt of their 
comments in the rules docket should enclose a self-addressed, stamped 
postcard in the envelope with their comments. Upon receiving the 
comments, the docket supervisor will return the postcard by mail.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33101, 33102 and 33104; delegation of 
authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

   Preliminary Report of Theft Rates of 1997 Model Year Passenger Motor Vehicles Stolen in Calendar Year 1997
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     1997 (per
                                                                                    Production    1,000 vehicles
             Manufacturer                   Make/model (line)       Thefts 1997    (Mfr's) 1997      produced)
                                                                                                    theft rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  SUZUKI...........................  SWIFT...................              16           1,724          9.2807
  2  HONDA............................  ACURA INTEGRA...........             277          30,046          9.2192
  3  CHRYSLER CORP....................  PLYMOUTH NEON...........             749          82,880          9.0372
  4  MITSUBISHI.......................  MIRAGE..................             497          58,218          8.5369
  5  CHRYSLER CORP....................  DODGE NEON..............             926         115,456          8.0204
  6  TOYOTA...........................  SUPRA...................              13           1,629          7.9804
  7  HYUNDAI..........................  TIBURON.................              37           4,758          7.7764
  8  SUZUKI...........................  ESTEEM..................              55           7,116          7.7291
  9  MITSUBISHI.......................  MONTERO SPORT...........             202          26,592          7.5963
 10  BMW..............................  8.......................               6             791          7.5853
 11  TOYOTA...........................  LEXUS SC................              41           5,570          7.3609
 12  CHRYSLER CORP....................  DODGE STRATUS...........             711          97,227          7.3128
 13  NISSAN...........................  MAXIMA..................             949         131,602          7.2111
 14  CHRYSLER CORP....................  STRATUS \1\.............               3             429          6.9930
 15  MITSUBISHI.......................  MONTERO.................              82          12,249          6.6944
 16  CHRYSLER CORP....................  INTREPID \1\............               4             616          6.4935
 17  NISSAN...........................  STANZA ALTIMA...........           1,157         179,501          6.4456
 18  CHRYSLER CORP....................  PLYMOUTH BREEZE.........             423          70,699          5.9831
 19  MITSUBISHI.......................  3000GT..................              38           6,399          5.9384
 20  GENERAL MOTORS...................  GEO METRO...............             374          64,933          5.7598
 21  MITSUBISHI.......................  ECLIPSE.................             439          77,556          5.6604
 22  MITSUBISHI.......................  GALANT..................             282          50,259          5.6109
 23  TOYOTA...........................  TERCEL..................             277          49,527          5.5929
 24  CHRYSLER CORP....................  NEW YORKER/LHS..........             203          36,622          5.5431
 25  FORD MOTOR CO....................  MERCURY MYSTIQUE........             126          23,321          5.4029
 26  FORD MOTOR CO....................  MERCURY TRACER..........             354          65,867          5.3745
 27  SUBARU...........................  SVX.....................               2             384          5.2083
 28  MERCEDES BENZ....................  140 (S-CLASS)...........              85          16,348          5.1994
 29  CHRYSLER CORP....................  DODGE INTREPID..........             775         151,603          5.1120
 30  MERCEDES BENZ....................  129 (SL-CLASS)..........              36           7,172          5.0195
 31  CHRYSLER CORP....................  SEBRING CONVERTIBLE.....             280          56,004          4.9996
 32  HYUNDAI..........................  SONATA..................              90          18,035          4.9903
 33  HONDA............................  ACURA SLX...............               5           1,003          4.9850
 34  SUZUKI...........................  SIDEKICK................             110          22,312          4.9301
 35  T0YOTA...........................  COROLLA.................           1,091         222,055          4.9132
 36  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CHEVROLET CAMARO........             270          55,037          4.9058
 37  FORD MOTOR CO....................  MUSTANG.................             490         100,259          4.8873
 38  HYUNDAI..........................  ACCENT..................             174          37,755          4.6087
 39  NISSAN...........................  PATHFINDER..............             382          83,550          4.5721
 40  GENERAL MOTORS...................  GEO PRIZM...............             285          62,800          4.5382
 41  BMW..............................  M3......................              35           7,976          4.3882
 42  CHRYSLER CORP....................  CIRRUS..................             121          28,008          4.3202
 43  CHRYSLER CORP....................  JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE.....           1,122         259,946          4.3163
 44  GENERAL MOTORS...................  PONTIAC FIREBIRD/FORMULA             133          30,819          4.3155
 45  FORD MOTOR CO....................  ASPIRE..................             161          37,398          4.3050
 46  ASTON MARTIN.....................  DB7.....................               1             234          4.2735
 47  ISUZU............................  HOMBRE PICKUP TRUCK.....              52          12,177          4.2703
 48  HONDA............................  ACCORD..................           1,604         375,973          4.2663
 49  CHRYSLER CORP....................  SEBRING COUPE...........             140          33,163          4.2216
 50  SUZUKI...........................  X-90....................               9           2,182          4.1247

[[Page 7947]]

 
 51  NISSAN...........................  240SX...................              15           3,655          4.1040
 52  FORD MOTOR CO....................  CONTOUR.................             327          79,945          4.0903
 53  NISSAN...........................  SENTRA/200SX............             628         154,689          4.0598
 54  GENERAL MOTORS...................  OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA......             201          49,879          4.0298
 55  CHRYSLER CORP....................  NEON 1..................               3             751          3.9947
 56  TOYOTA...........................  4-RUNNER................             512         128,659          3.9795
 57  HYUNDAI..........................  ELANTRA.................             178          44,936          3.9612
 58  GENERAL MOTORS...................  PONTIAC GRAND AM........             834         211,009          3.9524
 59  FORD MOTOR CO....................  ESCORT..................           1,264         323,413          3.9083
 60  MAZDA............................  626/MX-6................             320          82,223          3.8919
 61  GENERAL MOTORS...................  GMC JIMMY S-15..........             284          73,493          3.8643
 62  HONDA............................  DEL SOL.................              25           6,719          3.7208
 63  FORD MOTOR CO....................  PROBE...................              62          16,823          3.6854
 64  MERCEDES BENZ....................  202 (C-CLASS)...........              44          11,949          3.6823
 65  GENERAL MOTORS...................  BUICK SKYLARK...........             212          57,716          3.6732
 66  CHRYSLER CORP....................  EAGLE TALON.............              36           9,827          3.6634
 67  ISUZU............................  RODEO...................             190          52,937          3.5892
 68  CHRYSLER CORP....................  EAGLE VISION............              21           5,888          3.5666
 69  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CHEVROLET CORVETTE......              32           9,072          3.5273
 70  MAZDA............................  MILLENIA................              58          17,130          3.3859
 71  MITSUBISHI.......................  DIAMANTE................              95          28,208          3.3678
 72  NISSAN...........................  INFINITI I30............              92          27,606          3.3326
 73  FORD MOTOR CO....................  TAURUS..................           1,322         398,720          3.3156
 74  NISSAN...........................  INFINITI QX4............              54          16,558          3.2613
 75  ISUZU............................  TROOPER.................              34          10,616          3.2027
 76  FORD MOTOR CO....................  LINCOLN TOWN CAR........             328         104,969          3.1247
 77  CHRYSLER CORP....................  DODGE AVENGER...........             101          32,698          3.0889
 78  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CHEVROLET CAVALIER......             969         316,265          3.0639
 79  TOYOTA...........................  TACOMA PICKUP TRUCK.....             333         109,056          3.0535
 80  CHRYSLER CORP....................  JEEP WRANGLER...........             382         125,276          3.0493
 81  KIA..............................  SEPHIA..................             130          42,709          3.0439
 82  FORD MOTOR CO....................  MERCURY SABLE...........             340         114,227          2.9765
 83  MAZDA............................  MX-5 MIATA..............              55          18,536          2.9672
 84  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CHEVROLET BLAZER S10/T10             624         212,327          2.9389
 85  FORD MOTOR CO....................  LINCOLN MARK VIII.......              48          16,339          2.9378
 86  HONDA............................  PRELUDE.................              48          16,584          2.8944
 87  GENERAL MOTORS...................  PONTIAC SUNFIRE.........             305         105,493          2.8912
 88  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CADILLAC DEVILLE........             274          95,151          2.8796
 89  VOLVO............................  960.....................              52          18,140          2.8666
 90  PORSCHE..........................  911.....................              18           6,289          2.8621
 91  HONDA............................  PASSPORT................              62          21,693          2.8581
 92  HONDA............................  CIVIC...................             933         335,167          2.7837
 93  MAZDA............................  PROTEGE.................             159          57,153          2.7820
 94  FORD MOTOR CO....................  EXPLORER................           1,105         398,992          2.7695
 95  FORD MOTOR CO....................  WINDSTAR VAN............              98          36,315          2.6986
 96  JAGUAR...........................  XJ6.....................              21           7,899          2.6586
 97  VOLKSWAGEN.......................  GOLF/GTI................              59          22,684          2.6010
 98  ACURA............................  TL......................              55          21,441          2.5652
 99  TOYOTA...........................  CAMRY...................             935         365,752          2.5564
100  GENERAL MOTORS...................  PONTIAC BONNEVILLE......             186          74,182          2.5073
101  TOYOTA...........................  PASEO...................               8           3,194          2.5047
102  TOYOTA...........................  PREVIA VAN..............              12           4,840          2.4793
103  CHRYSLER CORP....................  PLYMOUTH PROWLER........               1             404          2.4752
104  BMW..............................  7.......................              43          17,788          2.4174
105  FORD MOTOR CO....................  THUNDERBIRD.............             178          73,812          2.4115
106  GENERAL MOTORS...................  OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS                   127          53,434          2.3768
                                         SUPREME.
107  TOYOTA...........................  LEXUS ES................             138          59,344          2.3254
108  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CHEVROLET LUMINA/MONTE               696         304,270          2.2874
                                         CARLO.
109  MERCEDES BENZ....................  210 (E-CLASS)...........             114          50,101          2.2754
110  VOLKSWAGEN.......................  PASSAT..................              26          11,437          2.2733
111  VOLKSWAGEN.......................  JETTA...................             208          91,809          2.2656
112  NISSAN...........................  PICKUP TRUCK............             286         130,665          2.1888
113  BMW..............................  3.......................              93          42,643          2.1809
114  HONDA............................  ACURA CL................              98          44,955          2.1800
115  CHRYSLER CORP....................  PLYMOUTH VOYAGER........             325         149,874          2.1685
116  GENERAL MOTORS...................  GMC SAFARI VAN..........              68          31,673          2.1469
117  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN.....             213         100,116          2.1275
118  NISSAN...........................  INFINITI J30............              23          10,817          2.1263

[[Page 7948]]

 
119  TOYOTA...........................  LEXUS LS................              38          17,900          2.1229
120  GENERAL MOTORS...................  GMC SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK.              82          38,759          2.1156
121  JAGUAR...........................  XJR.....................               1             473          2.1142
122  TOYOTA...........................  RAV4....................             154          73,321          2.1004
123  BMW..............................  5.......................              86          41,665          2.0641
124  TOYOTA...........................  T100 PICKUP TRUCK.......              62          30,389          2.0402
125  TOYOTA...........................  CELICA..................              26          12,901          2.0153
126  GENERAL MOTORS...................  GEO TRACKER.............              49          24,400          2.0082
127  GENERAL MOTORS...................  OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA......              54          27,722          1.9479
128  CHRYSLER CORP....................  CONCORDE................              99          51,119          1.9367
129  CHRYSLER CORP....................  DODGE CARAVAN...........             559         290,007          1.9275
130  GENERAL MOTORS...................  PONTIAC GRAND PRIX......             275         144,767          1.8996
131  KIA..............................  SPORTAGE................              44          23,500          1.8723
132  JAGUAR...........................  XK8.....................              15           8,242          1.8199
133  TOYOTA...........................  AVALON..................             132          73,991          1.7840
134  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CADILLAC ELDORADO.......              34          19,307          1.7610
135  GENERAL MOTORS...................  BUICK RIVIERA...........              31          18,175          1.7056
136  VOLVO............................  850.....................              72          42,596          1.6903
137  SAAB.............................  9000....................               9           5,449          1.6517
138  PORSCHE..........................  BOXSTER CONVERTIBLE.....               9           5,459          1.6487
139  BMW..............................  Z3......................              34          20,636          1.6476
140  CHRYSLER CORP....................  JEEP CHEROKEE...........             141          86,303          1.6338
141  FORD MOTOR CO....................  RANGER PICKUP TRUCK.....             478         296,746          1.6108
142  VOLKSWAGEN.......................  CABRIO..................              15           9,473          1.5834
143  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP                298         190,835          1.5616
                                         TRUCK.
144  AUDI.............................  A6......................              12           7,736          1.5512
145  CHRYSLER CORP....................  DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP                  195         128,661          1.5156
                                         TRUCK.
146  FORD MOTOR CO....................  AEROSTAR VAN............              78          53,721          1.4519
147  NISSAN...........................  INFINITI Q45............              18          12,398          1.4518
148  MAZDA............................  MPV.....................              19          13,302          1.4284
149  FORD MOTOR CO....................  MERCURY COUGAR..........              50          35,273          1.4175
150  MAZDA............................  B SERIES PICKUP TRUCK...              50          35,496          1.4086
151  NISSAN...........................  QUEST...................              73          52,071          1.4019
152  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CADILLAC SEVILLE........              52          37,187          1.3983
153  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CHEVROLET MALIBU........             136         100,661          1.3511
154  FORD MOTOR CO....................  LINCOLN CONTINENTAL.....              43          32,204          1.3352
155  CHRYSLER CORP....................  TOWN & COUNTRY MPV......             103          78,662          1.3094
156  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CADILLAC CATERA.........              34          26,109          1.3022
157  SUBARU...........................  IMPREZA.................              34          26,817          1.2679
158  GENERAL MOTORS...................  SATURN SC...............              84          66,456          1.2640
159  GENERAL MOTORS...................  SATURN SL...............             251         199,018          1.2612
160  VOLKSWAGEN.......................  EUROVAN.................               2           1,602          1.2484
161  SUBARU...........................  LEGACY..................             115          92,310          1.2458
162  FORD MOTOR CO....................  MERCURY VILLAGER MPV....              64          61,417          1.0421
163  GENERAL MOTORS...................  OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY-EIGHT.              68          65,879          1.0322
164  GENERAL MOTORS...................  OLDSMOBILE AURORA.......              26          25,579          1.0165
165  GENERAL MOTORS...................  PONTIAC TRANS SPORT VAN.              47          47,627          0.9868
166  AUDI.............................  A4......................              16          16,400          0.9756
167  FORD MOTOR CO....................  MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS...             124         127,973          0.9690
168  SAAB.............................  900.....................              22          23,152          0.9502
169  HONDA............................  ACURA RL................              15          16,377          0.9159
170  FORD MOTOR CO....................  CROWN VICTORIA..........             107         123,814          0.8642
171  AUDI.............................  A8......................               2           2,377          0.8414
172  GENERAL MOTORS...................  SATURN SW...............              20          27,129          0.7372
173  GENERAL MOTORS...................  BUICK LESABRE...........             155         211,904          0.7315
174  GENERAL MOTORS...................  OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS......              13          18,112          0.7178
175  HONDA............................  ODYSSEY.................              14          22,243          0.6294
176  ISUZU............................  OASIS...................               1           1,602          0.6242
177  HONDA............................  CR-V....................              44          73,948          0.5950
178  GENERAL MOTORS...................  OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE                 12          20,927          0.5734
                                         VAN.
179  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN...              38          71,649          0.5304
180  GENERAL MOTORS...................  BUICK CENTURY...........              27          53,706          0.5027
181  GENERAL MOTORS...................  BUICK PARK AVENUE.......              28          59,549          0.4702
182  GENERAL MOTORS...................  BUICK REGAL.............               7          21,828          0.3207
183  AUDI.............................  CABRIOLET...............               0           1,201          0.0000
184  CHRYSLER CORP....................  DODGE VIPER.............               0           1,537          0.0000
185  FERRARI..........................  F355....................               0             622          0.0000
186  FERRARI..........................  456.....................               0              70          0.0000

[[Page 7949]]

 
187  FERRARI..........................  550.....................               0              94          0.0000
188  GENERAL MOTORS...................  BUICK FUNERAL COACH/                   0             546          0.0000
                                         HEARSE.
189  GENERAL MOTORS...................  CADILLAC LIMOUSINE......               0             445          0.0000
190  GENERAL MOTORS...................  SATURN EV1..............               0           2,000          0.0000
191  HONDA............................  ACURA NSX...............               0             322          0.0000
192  JAGUAR...........................  VANDEN PLAS.............               0           2,536          0.0000
193  LAMBORGHINI......................  DB132/DIABLO............               0              74          0.0000
194  LOTUS............................  ESPRIT..................               0             121          0.0000
195  ROLLS-ROYCE......................  BENTLEY AZURE...........               0              81          0.0000
196  ROLLS--ROYCE.....................  BENTLEY BROOKLANDS......               0             135          0.0000
197  ROLLS--ROYCE.....................  BENTLEY CONTINENTAL T...               0              40          0.0000
198  ROLLS-ROYCE......................  BENTLEY TURBO R.........               0              54          0.0000
199ROLLS-ROYCE........................  SILVER DAWN.............               0              21          0.0000
200  ROLLS-ROYCE......................  SILVER SPUR.............               0             113          0.0000
201  ROLLS-ROYCE......................  PARK WARD LIMOUSINE.....               0               1          0.0000
202  TOYOTA...........................  LEXUS GS................               0             187          0.0000
203  VECTOR AUTO......................  AVTECH SC/M12...........               0               4         0.0000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These vehicles were manufactured for sale only in U.S. territories under the Chrysler name plate.

    Issued on: February 10, 1999.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-3671 Filed 2-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P