National Highway Traffic Safety Administration August 10, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document responds to a petition for reconsideration from DaimlerChrysler Corporation of a final rule relating to the agency's upgrade of rear and side impact tests in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 301, Fuel System Integrity. Among other matters, that final rule provided manufacturers of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 2,722 kilograms (6,000 pounds) an additional year of lead time to certify their vehicles to the amended side impact requirements, but did not provide for a phase-in of those requirements for those vehicles. On reconsideration, NHTSA is providing manufacturers of those vehicles a two year phase-in for the side impact requirements. Ninety percent of the vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2005 must meet the upgraded side impact requirements, with 100 percent of the vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2006 meeting the requirements.