[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 69768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30912]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-16656; Notice 1]


Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., Receipt of Petition for 
Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (Hyundai), has determined 
that the rims on certain vehicles that it produced in 2000 through 2003 
do not comply with S5.2(a) and S5.2(c) of 49 CFR 571.120, Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 120, ``Tire selection and rims for 
motor vehicles other than passenger cars.'' Hyundai has filed an 
appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, ``Defect and 
Noncompliance Reports.''
    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), Hyundai has petitioned 
for an exemption from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 
U.S.C. Chapter 301 on the basis that this noncompliance is 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
    This notice of receipt of Hyundai's petition is published under 49 
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or 
other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the petition.
    Affected are a total of approximately 250,348 model year 2001, 
2002, 2003 and 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe 4-door multipurpose passenger 
vehicles produced between March 31, 2000 and October 1, 2003. S5.2 of 
FMVSS 120, rim marking, requires that each rim be marked with certain 
information on the weather side, including:
    S5.2(a) A designation which indicates the source of the rim's 
published nominal dimensions, and S5.2(c) The symbol DOT.
    The rims installed on the affected vehicles do not contain the 
markings required by S5.2(a) or S5.2(c).
    Hyundai believes that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor 
vehicle safety, and that no corrective action is warranted. Hyundai 
states that the affected rims are 6.5J x 16'' aluminum alloy, which are 
commonly available and utilized in the United States. They are a 
correct specification for mounting the P225/70R16 tires specified for 
all Santa Fe models, and are capable of carrying the GVWR of the 
vehicle. Hyundai first became aware of this noncompliance of Santa Fe 
vehicles during a regulatory compliance review during August 2003.
    Hyundai states that no accidents or injuries have occurred, and no 
customer complaints have been received related to the lack of the 
markings or any problem that may have resulted from the lack of the 
markings. Hyundai further states that the missing markings do not 
affect the performance of the wheels or the tire and wheel assemblies.
    The rims are marked in compliance with S5.2(b), rim size 
designation; S5.2(d), manufacturer identification; and S5.2(e), month, 
day and year or month and year of manufacture. The rims are also marked 
with the Hyundai part number.
    The tire size is marked on the tire sidewalls, and the owner's 
manual and tire inflation pressure label contain the appropriate tire 
size to be installed on the original equipment rims. Therefore, Hyundai 
does not believe there is a possibility of a tire and rim mismatch as a 
result of the missing rim markings.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on the application described above. Comments must refer to 
the docket and notice number cited at the beginning of this notice and 
be submitted by any of the following methods. Mail: Docket Management 
Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, Room PL-
401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Hand Delivery: 
Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC. It is requested, but not required, that 
two copies of the comments be provided. The Docket Section is open on 
weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Federal holidays. Comments may 
be submitted electronically by logging onto the Docket Management 
System website at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Help'' to obtain 
instructions for filing the document electronically. Comments may be 
faxed to 1-202-493-2251, or may be submitted to the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    The application, supporting materials, and all comments received 
before the close of business on the closing date indicated below will 
be filed and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials 
received after the closing date will also be filed and will be 
considered to the extent possible. When the application is granted or 
denied, notice of the decision will be published in the Federal 
Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
    Comment closing date: January 14, 2004.

    Authority: (49 U.S.C. 301118, 301120: delegations of authority 
at CFR 1.50 and 501.8)

Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-30912 Filed 12-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P