[Federal Register: October 28, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 208)]
[Notices]               
[Page 57744-57745]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28oc98-126]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4510]

 
General Motors Corporation, Receipt of Application for Decision 
of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    General Motors Corporation (GM) has determined that certain 1998 
and 1999 GM passenger cars were not in full compliance with 49 CFR 
571.110, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, ``Tire 
selection and rims,'' and has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 
49 CFR part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance Reports.'' GM has also 
applied to be exempted from the notification and remedy requirements of 
49 U.S.C. Chapter 301--``Motor Vehicle Safety'' on the basis that the 
noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
    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 judgment concerning the merits of the application.
    Paragraph S4.3(b) of FMVSS No. 110 states that each vehicle shall 
have a placard, permanently affixed to the glove compartment door or an 
equally accessible location, that displays the designated seating 
capacity, in terms of the total number of occupants and the number of 
occupants for each seat location.
    From May 3, 1998 to August 6, 1998 GM produced 303,936 U.S. 
passenger cars with errors in the occupant capacity numbers on the tire 
information placard. GM stated that the errors were caused by 
unforeseen changes in the computer program that generates the labels. 
The programming error resulted in the incorrect numbers for the center 
and rear positions. However, the correct number was provided for the 
front position. The following table summarizes the information on the 
subject placard:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Front   Center   Rear    Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
As produced............................       2        2       0       3
Correct................................       2        0       3       5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    GM supports its application for inconsequential noncompliance with 
the following statements:
    1. The vehicle capacity weight, recommended cold tire inflation 
pressure, and recommended tire size designation information were not 
affected by the programming change and that information is correct on 
the placards of the subject vehicles;

[[Page 57745]]

    2. Occupant capacity information is provided to help customers 
avoid exceeding tire load limits. These errors will not contribute to 
overloading because the correct vehicle weight capacity is provided. 
The seating capacity is understated. The correct tire pressure 
information is also provided and the tire load limit will not be 
exceeded with all seating positions occupied; and
    3. A customer would look at the number of seats and the number of 
safety belts in a car to determine its capacity, rather than look at 
the placard. If a customer does read the seat capacity numbers on the 
tire placard, it will be obvious that the numbers are incorrect because 
the sum of the seat numbers will not equal the total number of the 
label. It is unlikely that anyone will be confused about the seat 
capacity of these cars after looking at the seats and safety belts.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on the application described above. Comments should refer to 
the docket number and be submitted to: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Management, 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 possible. 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: November 27, 1998.

(49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 
501.8)

    Issued on: October 21, 1998.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-28896 Filed 10-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P