[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54344-54345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20260]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-18946]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1998 Toyota 4-Runner Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1998 Toyota 4-Runner multipurpose passenger vehicles are eligible for 
importation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
1998 Toyota 4-Runner multipurpose passenger vehicles that were not 
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards are eligible for importation into the United 
States because (1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were 
originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United 
States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with 
the safety standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered 
to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is October 8, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 
Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are from 9 a.m. 
to 5 p.m.) Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (volume 65, number 70; pages 19477-78), or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not 
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards shall be refused admission into the United 
States unless NHTSA has decided that the motor vehicle is substantially 
similar to a motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into 
and sale in the United States, certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and of 
the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared, 
and is capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either 
manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to 
49 CFR part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice 
in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords 
interested persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the 
close of the comment period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the 
petition and any comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is 
eligible for importation. The agency then publishes this decision in 
the Federal Register.
    Sunshine Car Import (``SCI'') of Ft. Myers, Florida (Registered 
Importer 01-289) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 
1998 Toyota 4-Runner multipurpose passenger vehicles are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which SCI believes are 
substantially similar are 1998 Toyota 4-Runner multipurpose passenger 
vehicles that were manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the 
United States and certified by their manufacturer as conforming to all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1998 Toyota 4-Runner multipurpose passenger vehicles to their U.S.-
certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially 
similar with respect to compliance with most Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards.
    SCI submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 1998 Toyota 4-Runner multipurpose passenger 
vehicles as originally manufactured, conform to many Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards in the same manner as their U.S. certified 
counterparts, or are capable of being readily altered to conform to 
those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1998 
Toyota 4-Runner multipurpose passenger vehicles are identical to their 
U.S. certified counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard 
Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and 
Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic and 
Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood 
Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 
Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 119 New 
Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator 
Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head 
Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing 
Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating 
Systems, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 
212 Windshield Mounting, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone 
Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    The petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: installation of entire 
U.S.-model instrument cluster.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: inspection of all vehicles and replacement of non U.S.-model 
components with U.S.-model components to ensure compliance with the 
standard.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other 
than Passenger Cars: a tire information placard must be installed to 
ensure compliance with the standard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
seatbelt warning buzzer, warning lamp and associated wiring, and (b) 
inspection of all vehicles, and replacement of non U.S.-model 
components with U.S.-model components to ensure compliance with the 
standard.
    The petitioner states that the passive restraint system used in 
these vehicles consists of dual front airbags and knee bolsters.

[[Page 54345]]

    The petitioner also states that the vehicles have combination lap 
and shoulder belts at the outboard front and rear outboard seating 
positions as well as a rear center lap belt. These manual systems are 
automatic, self-tensioning, and are released by means of a single red 
push-button.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: inspection of all vehicles 
and installation, on vehicles that are not already so equipped, of door 
beams that are identical in materials and craftsmanship to U.S.-model 
components.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: (a) Installation of a U.S.-
model fuel filler cap, and (b) inspection of all vehicles and 
installation, on vehicles that are not already so equipped, of U.S. 
model components needed to achieve compliance with the standard.
    The petitioner also states that all vehicles will be inspected 
prior to importation to assure compliance with the Theft Prevention 
Standard at 49 CFR part 541, and that antitheft devices will be 
installed, if necessary, to comply with that standard.
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post to 
meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition 
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be 
submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) It is 
requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated above 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. Notice of final action on the petition 
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority 
indicated below.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; 
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 04-20260 Filed 9-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P