[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