[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58660-58661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16404]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2006-25975; Notice 1]


American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Receipt of Petition for Decision 
of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) has determined that the 
certification labels for certain Pilot trucks that it produced in 2006 
do not comply with S5.3 of 49 CFR 571.120, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard (FMVSS) No. 120, ``Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles 
other than passenger cars.'' Honda 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), Honda 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 Honda'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 23,000 model year 2006 and 
2007 Honda Pilot trucks produced between February 17, 2006 and August 
10, 2006. S5.3.2 of FMVSS No. 120 requires that the vehicles shall show 
the size designation appropriate for the tires. The noncompliant 
vehicles have certification labels stating that the rim size is 6 
inches, when in fact the rim size is 16 inches. Honda has corrected the 
problem that caused these errors so that they will not be repeated in 
future production.
    Honda believes that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor 
vehicle safety and that no corrective action is warranted. Honda 
presents the following basis for its petition:

    First, most vehicle owners, dealers, and tire service 
technicians would refer to the vehicles' existing tires and/or the 
separate Tire Placard to determine the appropriate size for a 
replacement tire rather than to the Certification Label. Second, if 
the vehicle owner, dealer or tire service technician read the 
incorrect rim size on the Certification Label, it would be obvious 
that a full size vehicle could not use 6 inch wheels. Third, the 
tire size is listed correctly on the Certification Label. Fourth, 
the owner's manual contains the correct rim size information. Fifth, 
the correct rim size is cast into the wheel itself.

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on this petition. 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

[[Page 58661]]

weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Federal Holidays. Comments may 
be submitted electronically by logging onto the Docket Management 
System Web site 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 petition, 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 petition is granted or 
denied, notice of the decision will be published in the Federal 
Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
    Comment closing date: November 3, 2006.


    Authority (49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: Delegations of authority at 
CFR 1.50 and 501.8).


    Issued on: September 29, 2006.
Daniel C. Smith,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
 [FR Doc. E6-16404 Filed 10-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P