[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24215-24216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11258]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA 99-5210 Notice 1]
Ford Motor Co.; Receipt of Application for Determination of
Inconsequential Non-Compliance
Ford Motor Company (``Ford''), of Dearborn, Michigan has applied to
be exempted from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C.
Chapter 301 ``Motor Vehicle Safety'' for a noncompliance with 49 CFR
571.205, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205,
``Glazing Materials,'' on the basis that the noncompliance is
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. Ford has filed a report of
noncompliance pursuant to 49 CFR part 573 ``Defects and Noncompliance
Reports.''
This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or
other exercise of judgement concerning the merits of the application.
Description of the Noncompliance
Certain Ford Contour, Mercury Mystique, Ford Econoline, Ford Ranger
and Mazda B series (manufactured by Ford) vehicles were equipped with
windshields which were not marked with the symbol ``AS1'' per the
requirements of S6 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)
205, which incorporates the requirements of section 6 of ANSI Z26.1
(American National Standard Institute, Safety Code for Safety Glazing
Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operating on Land Highways--1977).
The noncompliant windshields meet all performance requirements of FMVSS
205 and ANSI Z26.1.
Number of Vehicles
Three hundred eighty-two thousand nine hundred (382,900) vehicles
manufactured between June 11, 1997 and September 25, 1998, are believed
to contain the noncompliance. Approximately 8,400 of these were Mazda B
Series vehicles.
Supporting Information as Submitted by Ford
The windshields, while produced without the AS1 mark, contain all
other markings required by FMVSS 205 and ANSI Z26.1 including the
manufacturer's trademark, DOT number, and model number. The model
number identifies the glazing material as laminated safety glass, AS1.
In addition,
[[Page 24216]]
the trademark includes the word ``Laminated'' and also includes an
aftermarket National Auto Glass Specification number that identifies
the vehicles for which the windshield is designed. With the windshield
markings provided, a customer is highly unlikely to encounter any
problems obtaining the appropriate replacement windshield should that
need arise.
This marking failure first occurred on the Contour/Mystique and was
precipitated by a production change to remove the windshield shade
band. In the setup for the production of clear windshields, the AS1
mark was inadvertently omitted when trademark information was provided
to a supplier. The same band was subsequently deleted on the other
noncompliant vehicles, resulting in those windshields also being
produced without the mark.
The stated purposes of FMVSS 205 are to reduce injuries resulting
from impact to glazing surfaces, to ensure a necessary degree of
transparency in motor vehicle windows for driver visibility, and to
minimize the possibility of occupants being thrown through the vehicle
windows in collections. Because the windshields fully meet all of the
applicable performance requirements, the absence of the AS1 mark has no
effect upon the ability of the windshield glazing to satisfy these
stated purposes and thus perform in the manner intended by FMVSS 205.
Neither Ford nor Mazda is aware of any complaints of crashes or
injuries related to this condition.
Though not a safety concern, to preclude any potential customer
difficulty during vehicle inspections in states where glazing markings
are checked during the state inspection process, Ford and Mazda,
beginning in January 1999, are providing letters to the approximately
87,500 affected owners in those states (i.e., California, Maine,
Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Utah, Vermont, and
West Virginia). These letters will identify the condition, certify that
the windshields fully meet all other marking requirements and all
performance requirements of FMVSS 205, and indicate that state
authorities responsible for vehicle inspections have been notified of
this condition. These letters also indicate that Ford and Mazda will
apply the AS1 marking on any noncompliant windshield in these states if
the owner requests the marking be applied. In addition, Ford and Mazda
will advise dealers in these states, through the year 2001, to mark the
windshields that do not have the AS1 mark when the vehicle is brought
in for a regular service, regardless of whether the marking has been
requested by the owner. Based on Ford's past experience with such
programs, the company believes that this will result in the majority of
the windshields in these states being marked. Also, coincident with the
owner letters, a letter will be sent to the appropriate authority in
the above identified states providing any explanation of the condition,
certification that the windshields fully meet all other marking
requirements and all performance requirements of FMVSS 205, and a
listing of vehicle VIN numbers of all affected vehicles registered in
that state.
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments on the petition of Ford, described above. Comments should
refer to the Docket Number and be submitted to: Docket Management,
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Room PL 401, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. It is requested that two
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 practicable. 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: June 4, 1999.
(49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50
and 49 CFR 501.8).
Issued on: April 29, 1999.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-11258 Filed 5-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P