Chrysler Group, LLC, Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance, 50735-50736 [2014-20037]

Agencies

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 164 (Monday, August 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50735-50736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20037]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0076; Notice 1]


Chrysler Group, LLC, Receipt of Petition for Decision of 
Inconsequential Noncompliance

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

ACTION: Receipt of Petition.

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SUMMARY: Chrysler Group, LLC (Chrysler), a wholly owned subsidiary of 
Fiat S.p.A., has determined that certain model year (MY) 2014 RAM 2500 
trucks do not fully comply with paragraph S4.3 of Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire Selection and Rims and Motor 
Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for 
Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less, 
and certain MY 2014 RAM 3500 trucks do not fully comply with paragraph 
S5.3 of FMVSS No. 120, Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/
Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor 
Vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds). 
Chrysler filed an appropriate report dated May 6, 2014, pursuant to 49 
CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports and 
amended that report on June 10, 2014.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is September 24, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: 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 must 
be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Mail: Send comments by mail addressed to: U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Deliver: Deliver comments by hand to: U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. The 
Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except 
Federal Holidays.
     Electronically: Submit comments electronically by: logging 
onto the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Web site at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Comments may also be faxed to (202) 493-2251.
    Comments must be written in the English language, and be no greater 
than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to the length of 
necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are submitted in 
hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are provided. If you wish 
to receive confirmation that your comments were received, please 
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the comments. Note that 
all comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.
    Documents submitted to a docket may be viewed by anyone at the 
address and times given above. The documents may also be viewed on the 
Internet at https://www.regulations.gov by following the online 
instructions for accessing the dockets. DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement is available for review in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477-78).
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Chrysler's Petition: Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h) 
(see implementing rule at 49 CFR part 556), Chrysler submitted a 
petition 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 Chrysler'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.
    II. Vehicles Involved: The affected vehicles include approximately 
198 MY 2014 RAM 2500 trucks and 87 MY 2014

[[Page 50736]]

RAM 3500 trucks that were produced from March 4, 2014 through March 6, 
2014.
    III. Noncompliance: Chrysler explains that due to the absence of 
the designated rim size and type on the 49 CFR part 567 certification 
labels, the subject vehicles do not fully comply with paragraph S4.3 of 
FMVSS No. 110 (RAM 2500 trucks) and paragraph S5.3 of FMVSS No. 120 
(RAM 3500 trucks).
    IV. Rule Text: Paragraph S4.3 of FMVSS No. 110 requires in 
pertinent part:

* * * S4.3.3 Additional labeling information for vehicles other than 
passenger cars. Each vehicle shall show the size designation and, if 
applicable, the type designation of rims (not necessarily those on 
the vehicle) appropriate for the tire appropriate for use on that 
vehicle, including the tire installed as original equipment on the 
vehicle by the vehicle manufacturer, after each GAWR listed on the 
certification label required by Sec.  567.4 or Sec.  567.5 of this 
chapter. This information shall be in the English language, lettered 
in block capitals and numerals not less than 2.4 millimeters high 
and in the following format: * * *

    Paragraph S5.3 of FMVSS No. 120 requires in pertinent part:

* * * S5.3.1 Tires. The size designation (not necessarily for the 
tires on the vehicle) and the recommended cold inflation pressure 
for those tires such that the sum of the load ratings of the tires 
on each axle (when the tires' load carrying capacity at the 
specified pressure is reduced by diving by 1.10, in the case of a 
tire subject to FMVSS No. 109) is appropriate for the GAWR as 
calculated in accordance with S5.1.2.

S5.3.2 Rim. The size designation and, if applicable, the type 
designation of Rims (not necessarily those on the vehicle) 
appropriate for those tires. * * *

    V. Summary of Chrysler's Analyses: Chrysler stated its belief that 
the subject noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety 
for the following reasons:
    1. Tire size and pressure information is located on the Tire 
Inflation Pressure label which is located in the same door opening as 
the certification label.
    a. Certification label is located on the driver door.
    b. Tire placard is located on the forward edge of the driver's B-
pillar.
    2. Tire size and inflation pressure can be found on each tire.
    3. Tire and rim information can be found in the vehicle owner's 
manual.
    4. Rim/wheel size can be derived using the tire information printed 
on the Tire Inflation Pressure label or the tire sidewall information.
    5. Chrysler is not aware of any warranty claims, field reports, 
customer complaints, legal claims or any incidents or injuries related 
to the subject condition.
    6. Chrysler also stated its belief that NHTSA has previously 
granted petition similar in nature.
    Chrysler has additionally informed NHTSA that it has corrected the 
noncompliance so that all future production of these vehicles will 
fully comply with FMVSS Nos. 110 and 120.
    In summation, Chrysler believes that the described noncompliance of 
the subject vehicles is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety, and 
that its petition, to exempt from providing recall notification of 
noncompliance as required by 49 U.S.C. 30118 and remedying the recall 
noncompliance as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120 should be granted.
    NHTSA notes that the statutory provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 
30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to file petitions for a 
determination of inconsequentiality allow NHTSA to exempt manufacturers 
only from the duties found in sections 30118 and 30120, respectively, 
to notify owners, purchasers, and dealers of a defect or noncompliance 
and to remedy the defect or noncompliance. Therefore, any decision on 
this petition only applies to the subject noncompliant vehicles that 
Chrysler no longer controlled at the time it determined that the 
noncompliance existed. However, any decision on this petition does not 
relieve vehicle distributors and dealers of the prohibitions on the 
sale, offer for sale, or introduction or delivery for introduction into 
interstate commerce of the noncompliant vehicles under their control 
after Chrysler notified them that the subject noncompliance existed.

    Authority:  (49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at 
49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8)

Jeffrey Giuseppe,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2014-20037 Filed 8-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P