[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 127 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40721-40725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16428]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6586; Notice 02]
RIN 2127-AH76


Final Theft Data; Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard

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

ACTION: Publication of final theft data.

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SUMMARY: This document publishes the final data on thefts of model year 
(MY) 1998 passenger motor vehicles that occurred in calendar year (CY) 
1998. The final 1998 theft data indicate a decrease in the vehicle 
theft rate when compared to the theft rate experienced in CY/MY 1997. 
The final theft rate for MY 1998 passenger vehicles stolen in calendar 
year 1998 (2.53 thefts per thousand vehicles produced) decreased by 
17.05 percent from the theft rate for CY/MY 1997 vehicles (3.05 thefts 
per thousand vehicles produced). 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.

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) 493-2290.

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 and 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 this statutory 
mandate, NHTSA has published theft data annually beginning with MYs 
1983/84. Continuing to fulfill the Sec. 33104(b)(4) mandate, this 
document reports the final theft data for CY 1998, the most recent 
calendar year for which data are available.
    In calculating the 1998 theft rates, NHTSA followed the same 
procedures it used in calculating the MY 1997 theft rates. (For 1997 
theft data calculations, see 64 FR 41183, July 29, 1999.) As in all 
previous reports, NHTSA's data were based on information provided to 
NHTSA by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) of the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation. The NCIC is a government 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 1998 theft rate for each vehicle line was calculated by 
dividing the number of reported thefts of MY 1998 vehicles of that line 
stolen during calendar year 1998 by the total number of vehicles in 
that line manufactured for MY 1998, as reported to the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA).
    The final 1998 theft data show a decrease in the vehicle theft rate 
when compared to the theft rate experienced in CY/MY 1997. The final 
theft rate for MY 1998 passenger vehicles stolen in CY 1998 decreased 
to 2.53 thefts per thousand vehicles produced, a decrease of 17.05 
percent from the rate of 3.05 thefts per thousand vehicles experienced 
by MY 1997 vehicles in CY 1997. For MY 1998 vehicles, out of a total of 
196 vehicle lines, 41 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 41 vehicle lines with a theft 
rate higher than 3.5826, 35 are passenger car lines, 6 are multipurpose 
passenger vehicle lines, and none are light-duty truck lines.
    On Tuesday, February 8, 2000, NHTSA published the preliminary theft 
rates for CY 1998 passenger motor vehicles in the Federal Register (65 
FR 6250). The agency tentatively ranked each of the MY 1998 vehicle 
lines in descending order of theft rate. The public was requested to 
comment on the accuracy of the data and to provide final production 
figures for individual vehicle lines. The agency received written 
comments from General Motors Corporation (GM) and Volkswagen of 
America, Inc. (VW). The agency used all written comments to make the 
necessary adjustments to its data. As a result of the adjustments, some 
of the final theft rates and rankings of vehicle lines changed from 
those published in the February 2000 notice. In its comments, 
Volkswagen informed the agency that the production volume for the Audi 
A4 vehicle line was incorrect. In response to this comment, the 
production volume for the Audi A4 has been corrected and the final 
theft list has been revised accordingly. As a result of the correction, 
the Audi A4 previously ranked No. 163 with a theft rate of 0.8669 is 
now ranked No. 168 with a theft rate of 0.7147.
    GM informed the agency that the production volumes for the 
Chevrolet Metro and Chevrolet Tracker were incorrect. Upon further 
review of the production volumes, it was later confirmed by GM that the 
volumes listed by the agency for the two lines were not in error. 
Therefore, the production volume and the theft rate for the Chevrolet 
Metro and Chevrolet Tracker vehicle lines will remain unchanged.
    The following list represents NHTSA's final calculation of theft 
rates for all 1998 passenger motor vehicle lines. This list is intended 
to inform the public of calendar year 1998 motor vehicle thefts of 
model year 1998 vehicles and does not have any effect on the 
obligations of regulated parties under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 331, Theft 
Prevention.

              Theft Rates of Model Year 1998 Passenger Motor Vehicles Stolen in Calendar Year 1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      1998 theft
                                                                                         Production   rate (per
               Manufacturer                       Make/model (line)        Thefts 1998    (mfr's)       1,000
                                                                                            1998       vehicles
                                                                                                      produced)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 MITSUBISHI............................  DIAMANTE.....................           87        6,584      13.2139
  2 LAMBORGHINI...........................  DB132/DIABLO.................            1          104       9.6154

[[Page 40722]]

 
  3 SAAB..................................  9000.........................           12        1,335       8.9888
  4 HONDA.................................  ACURA INTEGRA................          314       36,253       8.6614
  5 MITSUBISHI............................  MIRAGE.......................          357       41,904       8.5195
  6 TOYOTA................................  TERCEL.......................           92       11,207       8.2092
  7 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  DODGE STRATUS................          750      107,276       6.9913
  8 MITSUBISHI............................  MONTERO SPORT/NATIVA \1\.....          318       45,772       6.9475
  9 GENERAL MOTORS........................  OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA...........          181       26,922       6.7231
 10 GENERAL MOTORS........................  GMC SAFARI VAN...............          161       24,451       6.5846
 11 GENERAL MOTORS........................  BUICK SKYLARK................          122       18,851       6.4718
 12 HYUNDAI...............................  SONATA.......................          101       16,406       6.1563
 13 SUZUKI................................  X-90.........................            3          500       6.0000
 14 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  PLYMOUTH BREEZE..............          393       66,612       5.8998
 15 MITSUBISHI............................  GALANT.......................          172       29,618       5.8073
 16 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  PLYMOUTH NEON................          499       87,055       5.7320
 17 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  DODGE NEON...................          725      130,154       5.5703
 18 MITSUBISHI............................  ECLIPSE......................          307       56,294       5.4535
 19 NISSAN................................  MAXIMA.......................          682      130,862       5.2116
 20 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  SEBRING CONVERTIBLE..........          251       50,812       4.9398
 21 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  MERCURY TRACER...............          177       35,850       4.9372
 22 HYUNDAI...............................  ELANTRA......................          169       35,792       4.7217
 23 SUZUKI................................  SWIFT........................           15        3,265       4.5942
 24 GENERAL MOTORS........................  PONTIAC SUNFIRE..............          409       90,469       4.5209
 25 MITSUBISHI............................  MONTERO......................           38        8,506       4.4674
 26 SUZUKI................................  ESTEEM.......................           67       15,222       4.4015
 27 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE..........        1,085      249,097       4.3557
 28 BMW...................................  M3...........................           50       11,537       4.3339
 29 TOYOTA................................  SUPRA........................            3          697       4.3042
 30 MAZDA.................................  MILLENIA.....................           82       19,908       4.1189
 31 TOYOTA................................  LEXUS GS.....................          124       30,810       4.0247
 32 TOYOTA................................  4-RUNNER.....................          489      121,745       4.0166
 33 BMW...................................  7............................           73       18,179       4.0156
 34 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  CONTOUR......................          866      217,548       3.9807
 35 HYUNDAI...............................  ACCENT.......................          123       31,692       3.8811
 36 GENERAL MOTORS........................  PONTIAC GRAND AM.............          386      101,814       3.7912
 37 MITSUBISHI............................  3000GT.......................           18        4,753       3.7871
 38 NISSAN................................  ALTIMA.......................          602      159,224       3.7808
 39 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  EAGLE TALON..................           16        4,317       3.7063
 40 AUDI..................................  CABRIOLET....................            3          829       3.6188
 41 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  MUSTANG......................          612      170,587       3.5876
 42 MERCEDES BENZ.........................  140 (CL-CLASS & SL-CLASS)....           34        9,593       3.5443
 43 SUZUKI................................  SIDEKICK.....................           65       18,396       3.5334
 44 NISSAN................................  SENTRA/200SX.................          395      111,821       3.5324
 45 MAZDA.................................  PROTEGE......................          201       57,165       3.5161
 46 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET BLAZER S10/T10.....          759      216,854       3.5001
 47 KIA MOTORS............................  SEPHIA.......................          156       45,860       3.4017
 48 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET PRIZM..............          153       45,000       3.4000
 49 GENERAL MOTORS........................  PONTIAC FIREBIRD/FORMULA.....          107       32,228       3.3201
 50 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET CAMARO.............          159       48,562       3.2742
 51 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  MERCURY MYSTIQUE.............          195       59,826       3.2595
 52 ISUZU.................................  RODEO........................          223       68,558       3.2527
 53 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  CIRRUS.......................          121       37,295       3.2444
 54 PORSCHE...............................  911..........................            8        2,474       3.2336
 55 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET METRO..............          104       32,499       3.2001
 56 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  DODGE AVENGER................           85       26,634       3.1914
 57 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET CAVALIER...........          844      270,401       3.1213
 58 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  MERCURY SABLE................          282       91,297       3.0888
 59 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  LINCOLN TOWN CAR.............          253       82,965       3.0495
 60 TOYOTA................................  COROLLA......................          690      228,197       3.0237
 61 MERCEDES BENZ.........................  129 (SL-CLASS)...............           25        8,315       3.0066
 62 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  LINCOLN MARK VIII............           43       14,357       2.9951
 63 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET CORVETTE...........           86       28,732       2.9932
 64 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  JEEP CHEROKEE................          439      148,207       2.9621
 65 NISSAN................................  INFINITI I30.................           92       31,060       2.9620
 66 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  ESCORT.......................          995      336,729       2.9549
 67 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CADILLAC DEVILLE.............          305      104,209       2.9268
 68 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET MALIBU.............          669      231,143       2.8943
 69 GENERAL MOTORS........................  GMC JIMMY S-15...............          204       71,583       2.8498
 70 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  TAURUS.......................          943      332,243       2.8383

[[Page 40723]]

 
 71 TOYOTA................................  TACOMA PICKUP TRUCK..........          484      170,992       2.8305
 72 HONDA.................................  PRELUDE......................           45       15,973       2.8173
 73 JAGUAR................................  XJ8..........................           32       11,374       2.8134
 74 MAZDA.................................  626..........................          246       87,448       2.8131
 75 GENERAL MOTORS........................  OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA...........           77       27,790       2.7708
 76 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  SEBRING COUPE................           93       35,035       2.6545
 77 HYUNDAI...............................  TIBURON......................           17        6,444       2.6381
 78 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  DODGE INTREPID...............          182       70,283       2.5895
 79 NISSAN................................  INFINITI QX4.................           44       17,109       2.5717
 80 HONDA.................................  PASSPORT.....................           63       25,435       2.4769
 81 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET LUMINA/MONTE CARLO.          616      255,423       2.4117
 82 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET TRACKER............           50       20,999       2.3811
 83 NISSAN................................  PATHFINDER...................          186       81,428       2.2842
 84 HONDA.................................  CIVIC........................          838      368,876       2.2718
 85 GENERAL MOTORS........................  PONTIAC BONNEVILLE...........          146       65,539       2.2277
 86 VOLKSWAGEN............................  GOLF/GTI.....................           40       17,971       2.2258
 87 MERCEDES BENZ.........................  208 (CLK-CLASS)..............           11        5,103       2.1556
 88 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  JEEP WRANGLER................          185       90,341       2.0478
 89 BMW...................................  3............................           76       38,098       1.9949
 90 VOLKSWAGEN............................  JETTA........................          149       74,701       1.9946
 91 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  STRATUS \2\..................            1          505       1.9802
 92 BMW...................................  5............................           70       35,631       1.9646
 93 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  F-150 PICKUP TRUCK...........          805      409,940       1.9637
 94 JAGUAR................................  XJR..........................            3        1,534       1.9557
 95 TOYOTA................................  CAMRY........................          790      404,850       1.9513
 96 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  WINDSTAR VAN.................          646      333,746       1.9356
 97 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  NEON \2\.....................            1          518       1.9305
 98 KIA MOTORS............................  SPORTAGE.....................           51       26,455       1.9278
 99 VOLVO.................................  S70/V70......................          167       87,069       1.9180
100 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  PLYMOUTH VOYAGER/GRAND.......          299      156,440       1.9113
101 TOYOTA................................  LEXUS ES.....................           96       50,585       1.8978
102 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  DODGE CARAVAN/GRAND..........          538      288,662       1.8638
103 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CADILLAC ELDORADO............           33       17,950       1.8384
104 GENERAL MOTORS........................  OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE..........          180       99,035       1.8175
105 HONDA.................................  ACURA TL.....................           33       18,337       1.7996
106 TOYOTA................................  LEXUS SC.....................            5        2,801       1.7851
107 ISUZU.................................  TROOPER......................           33       18,657       1.7688
108 ISUZU.................................  OASIS VAN....................            3        1,702       1.7626
109 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS........          154       87,762       1.7547
110 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  EXPLORER.....................          773      446,467       1.7314
111 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CADILLAC SEVILLE.............           47       27,650       1.6998
112 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK....          245      144,215       1.6989
113 MERCEDES BENZ.........................  210 (E-CLASS)................           72       42,466       1.6955
114 VOLVO.................................  C70..........................            4        2,394       1.6708
115 TOYOTA................................  T100 PICKUP TRUCK............           18       10,783       1.6693
116 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CADILLAC CATERA..............           46       27,571       1.6684
117 MAZDA.................................  MPV..........................           25       15,037       1.6626
118 GENERAL MOTORS........................  OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS...........           86       52,679       1.6325
119 GENERAL MOTORS........................  OLDSMOBILE AURORA............           39       23,955       1.6281
120 ISUZU.................................  HOMBRE PICKUP TRUCK..........           32       20,289       1.5772
121 GENERAL MOTORS........................  BUICK CENTURY................          198      128,899       1.5361
122 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  RANGER PICKUP TRUCK..........          451      297,551       1.5157
123 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  MERCURY MOUNTAINEER..........           77       51,022       1.5092
124 GENERAL MOTORS........................  PONTIAC GRAND PRIX...........          188      127,838       1.4706
125 MAZDA.................................  B SERIES PICKUP TRUCK........           70       48,270       1.4502
126 TOYOTA................................  RAV4.........................           93       64,298       1.4464
127 GENERAL MOTORS........................  BUICK REGAL..................          101       70,556       1.4315
128 HONDA.................................  ACURA CL.....................           36       25,471       1.4134
129 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP TRUCK..          348      248,330       1.4014
130 ISUZU.................................  AMIGO........................           13        9,374       1.3868
131 JAGUAR................................  XK8..........................            8        5,792       1.3812
132 PORSCHE...............................  BOXSTER CONVERTIBLE..........           10        7,253       1.3787
133 MERCEDES BENZ.........................  202 (C-CLASS)................           45       34,100       1.3196
134 GENERAL MOTORS........................  GMC SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK......           77       59,359       1.2972
135 GENERAL MOTORS........................  BUICK PARK AVENUE............           80       62,015       1.2900
136 GENERAL MOTORS........................  PONTIAC TRANS SPORT VAN......           70       54,839       1.2765
137 NISSAN................................  FRONTIER PICKUP TRUCK........          111       89,266       1.2435
138 GENERAL MOTORS........................  SATURN SC....................           42       34,035       1.2340

[[Page 40724]]

 
139 GENERAL MOTORS........................  BUICK RIVIERA................           13       10,601       1.2263
140 VOLKSWAGEN............................  CABRIO.......................           15       12,252       1.2243
141 HONDA.................................  ACCORD.......................          490      403,085       1.2156
142 BMW...................................  Z3...........................           20       16,482       1.2134
143 TOYOTA................................  LEXUS LS.....................           27       22,840       1.1821
144 SUBARU................................  IMPREZA......................           23       19,550       1.1765
145 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  CONCORDE.....................           52       46,543       1.1172
146 MERCEDES BENZ.........................  163 (ML-CLASS)...............           44       39,493       1.1141
147 HONDA.................................  ACURA SLX....................            2        1,800       1.1111
148 MERCEDES BENZ.........................  170 (SLK-CLASS)..............           14       12,658       1.1060
149 GENERAL MOTORS........................  OLDSMOBILE 88/REGENCY........           69       64,116       1.0762
150 TOYOTA................................  AVALON.......................           80       76,189       1.0500
151 SUBARU................................  LEGACY.......................           95       90,721       1.0472
152 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN........           93       93,027       0.9997
153 GENERAL MOTORS........................  SATURN SL....................          146      147,604       0.9891
154 HONDA.................................  ACURA RL.....................           14       14,182       0.9872
155 NISSAN................................  QUEST........................           26       26,388       0.9853
156 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  LINCOLN CONTINENTAL..........           38       38,671       0.9826
157 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  DODGE VIPER..................            1        1,067       0.9372
158 VOLVO.................................  S90/V90......................           12       12,825       0.9357
159 VOLKSWAGEN............................  PASSAT.......................           24       25,869       0.9278
160 NISSAN................................  240SX........................            2        2,178       0.9183
161 NISSAN................................  INFINITI Q45.................            7        7,795       0.8980
162 TOYOTA................................  CELICA.......................            3        3,343       0.8974
163 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  TOWN & COUNTRY MPV...........           52       62,976       0.8257
164 GENERAL MOTORS........................  BUICK LESABRE................          111      143,354       0.7743
165 HONDA.................................  CR-V.........................           74       96,828       0.7642
166 JAGUAR................................  VANDEN PLAS..................            4        5,284       0.7570
167 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  MERCURY VILLAGER MPV.........           28       37,471       0.7472
168 AUDI..................................  A4...........................           21       29,383       0.7147
169 TOYOTA................................  SIENNA VAN...................           48       73,777       0.6506
170 SUBARU................................  FORESTER.....................           28       43,490       0.6438
171 AUDI..................................  A6...........................           10       16,938       0.5904
172 VOLKSWAGEN............................  NEW BEETLE...................           22       38,999       0.5641
173 HONDA.................................  ODYSSEY VAN..................            8       14,633       0.5467
174 FORD MOTOR CO.........................  CROWN VICTORIA...............           43       85,305       0.5041
175 GENERAL MOTORS........................  OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE VAN....           17       35,827       0.4745
176 GENERAL MOTORS........................  SATURN SW....................            8       18,322       0.4366
177 SAAB..................................  900..........................            5       12,003       0.4166
178 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN..........           34       83,317       0.4081
179 ASTON MARTIN..........................  DB7..........................            0          213       0.0000
180 AUDI..................................  A8...........................            0        1,978       0.0000
181 CHRYSLER CORP.........................  INTREPID \2\.................            0          171       0.0000
182 FERRARI...............................  456..........................            0           25       0.0000
183 FERRARI...............................  550..........................            0          149       0.0000
184 FERRARI...............................  F355.........................            0          511       0.0000
185 GENERAL MOTORS........................  BUICK FUNERAL COACH..........            0        1,061       0.0000
186 GENERAL MOTORS........................  CADILLAC LIMOUSINE...........            0        1,134       0.0000
187 HONDA.................................  ACURA NSX....................            0          254       0.0000
188 LOTUS.................................  ESPRIT.......................            0           54       0.0000
189 ROLLS-ROYCE...........................  BENTLEY AZURE................            0           99       0.0000
190 ROLLS-ROYCE...........................  BENTLEY BROOKLANDS...........            0           39       0.0000
191 ROLLS-ROYCE...........................  BENTLEY CONTINENTAL R........            0           24       0.0000
192 ROLLS-ROYCE...........................  BENTLEY CONTINENTAL T........            0           20       0.0000
193 ROLLS-ROYCE...........................  BENTLEY TURBO R/RT...........            0           25       0.0000
194 ROLLS-ROYCE...........................  SILVER SPUR PARK WARD........            0           12       0.0000
195 ROLLS-ROYCE...........................  SILVER SPUR..................            0           30       0.0000
196 VECTOR AUTO...........................  AVTECH SC/M12................            0            5      0.0000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Nativa is the name applied to Montero Sport vehicles that are manufactured for sale only in Puerto Rico.
\2\ These vehicles were manufactured for sale only in U.S. territories under the Chrysler name plate.



[[Page 40725]]

    Issued on: June 23, 2000.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 00-16428 Filed 6-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P