National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NHTSA is confirming its initial decision that certain frontal driver and passenger air bag inflators manufactured by ARC Automotive Inc. and Delphi Automotive Systems LLC, and vehicles in which those inflators were installed, contain a defect related to motor vehicle safety. NHTSA is issuing this supplemental initial decision to address in greater detail the basis for the agency's initial decision and to ensure that all vehicles and manufacturers that would be impacted by any recall order are included within the scope of the initial decision.

This document corrects technical errors in the final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on June 24, 2024, entitled "Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks for Model Years 2027-2032 and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans for Model Years 2030-2035." That document finalized new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light trucks to be manufactured in model years (MYs) 2027-2031, and new fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans (HDPUVs) to be manufactured in MYs 2030-2035.

Ineos Automotive Americas, LLC, (IAA) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2024 Ineos Automotive Grenadier light vehicles do not fully comply with 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. IAA filed a noncompliance report dated December 4, 2023, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the "Agency") on December 8, 2023, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of IAA's petition.

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2017-2023 Tesla Model and Tesla Model Y motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, And Associated Equipment. Tesla filed a noncompliance report dated March 15, 2024, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the "Agency") on April 8, 2024, and amended its petition on May 3, 2024, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Tesla's petition.

NHTSA is initiating a process to update minimum performance measures for the State Highway Safety Grant Program. In order to ensure that the broadest possible cross-section of stakeholders is engaged from the onset of this process, NHTSA is publishing this RFC and announcing a public meeting to be held prior to issuing the updated highway safety performance measurement framework.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a defect petition, DP24-002, submitted by Ms. Elizabeth Margulies (the Petitioner) to NHTSA (the Agency) by a letter dated February 15, 2024. The petition requests that the Agency initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power incidents attributed to vehicles manufactured by Kia America, Inc. (Kia) equipped with 3.3 L Lambda-II engines. After conducting a technical review of the petition and other information, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has concluded that that the issues raised by the petition do not warrant a new defect investigation. Peer vehicles equipped with the 3.3 L Lambda-II engine are already being considered in an open investigation into allegations of loss of motive power for Model Year (MY) 2016-2017 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the same 3.3 L Lambda-II engine. Accordingly, the Agency has denied the petition as moot.

This notice announces a meeting of the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC).

This final rule amends the definition of "equipment" to conform with OMB's government-wide Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance affecting Federal grants.

This document announces the availability of documents supplementing NHTSA's September 2023 notice of proposed rulemaking to amend NHTSA's regulations to include an advanced crash test dummy, the Test Device for Human Occupant Restraint 50th percentile adult male.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition, DP21-002, submitted by Mr. Gerald James to the Administrator of NHTSA by a letter dated September 30, 2021. The petition requests that NHTSA initiate an investigation into "severe oil leaks" from the oil pressure switch that could lead to engine failures experienced by operators of Model Year (MY) 2015-2017 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L V6 engines. After conducting a technical review of: customer complaints submitted by the petitioner; an inspection of petitioner's vehicle; consumer complaint information in NHTSA's database; information provided by Kia North America (Kia) in response to our requests regarding vehicle design and complaints/claims received by Kia; and component testing performed by NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has concluded that it is unlikely that any investigation opened by granting this petition would result in an order concerning the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect. Therefore, upon full consideration of the information presented in the petition and the potential risks to safety, the petition is denied.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition submitted to NHTSA on August 18, 2022, requesting that the agency commence an investigation of collisions of passenger vehicles and vulnerable road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists) with van-type (also known as box) semi-trailers that result in significant injuries or death due to a lack of effective rear impact guards. On January 17, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition DP22-004 to evaluate petitioners' request. After consideration of the petition and other information, NHTSA believes that the issues raised here are best addressed through its recent rulemaking and the ongoing actions under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Accordingly, the agency has denied the petition.

FCA US LLC (f/k/a Chrysler Group LLC) (FCA), has determined that certain MY 2014-2019 Fiat 500 motor vehicles do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 138, Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems. FCA filed a noncompliance report dated April 11, 2019, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA on May 3, 2019, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces and explains the denial of FCA's petition.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. The proposed collection of information described below supports research addressing safety-related aspects of drivers' interactions with driving automation systems. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on December 12, 2023. Comments were received from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

NHTSA received requests to extend the comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding fuel system integrity of hydrogen vehicles and compressed hydrogen storage system integrity that NHTSA published on April 17, 2024. The comment period for the NPRM was scheduled to end on June 17, 2024. NHTSA is extending the comment period for the NPRM by 30 days.

This document corrects the DATES and ADDRESSES sections to a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2024, regarding Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 305a Electric- Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity. The proposed rule included establishing new reporting and record retention requirements and, in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), NHTSA sought public comment on these new proposed information collections. The corrections add text under the DATES and ADDRESSES sections to include instructions for submitting comments regarding the new information collection requirements proposed in the NPRM.

This final rule adopts a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard to require automatic emergency braking (AEB), including pedestrian AEB (PAEB), systems on light vehicles. An AEB system uses various sensor technologies and sub-systems that work together to detect when the vehicle is in a crash imminent situation, to automatically apply the vehicle brakes if the driver has not done so, or to apply more braking force to supplement the driver's braking. This final rule specifies that an AEB system must detect and react to an imminent crash with both a lead vehicle or a pedestrian. This final rule fulfills a mandate under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) directing the Department to promulgate a rule to require that all passenger vehicles be equipped with an AEB system. The purpose of this final rule is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries that result from crashes in which drivers do not apply the brakes or fail to apply sufficient braking power to avoid or mitigate a crash, and to reduce the consequences of such crashes.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. This document describes a new collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval titled Examining Distraction and Driver Monitoring Systems to Improve Driver Safety. A Federal Register Notice with a 60- day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on July 14, 2023. Four comments were received during the comment period. This 30-day notice includes a summary of those comments, responses to the comments (no changes to the study are expected as a result of the comments), and an update to the estimated burden hours from the 60-day notice.

This notice proposes to establish two new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) specifying performance requirements for all motor vehicles that use hydrogen as a fuel source. The proposed standards are based on Global Technical Regulation (GTR) No. 13. FMVSS No. 307, "Fuel system integrity of hydrogen vehicles," which would specify requirements for the integrity of the fuel system in hydrogen vehicles during normal vehicle operations and after crashes. FMVSS No. 308, "Compressed hydrogen storage system integrity," would specify requirements for the compressed hydrogen storage system to ensure the safe storage of hydrogen onboard vehicles. The two proposed standards would reduce deaths and injuries that could occur as a result of fires due to hydrogen fuel leakages and/or explosion of the hydrogen storage system.

Consistent with a Global Technical Regulation on electric vehicle safety, NHTSA proposes to establish Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305a to replace FMVSS No. 305, "Electric- powered vehicles: Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection." Among other improvements, FMVSS No. 305a would apply to light and heavy vehicles and would have performance and risk mitigation requirements for the propulsion battery. Relating to a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation, FMVSS No. 305a would also require manufacturers to submit standardized emergency response information for inclusion on NHTSA's website that would assist first and second responders handling electric vehicles.

Michelin North America, Inc. (MNA) has determined that certain Michelin X Works D tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119, New Pneumatic Tires for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of More Than 4,536 kilograms (10,000) pounds, Speciality Tires, and Tires for Motorcycles. MNA filed a noncompliance report dated December 16, 2022, and January 11, 2023, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the "Agency") on January 10, 2023, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of MNA's petition.

Michelin North America, Inc. (MNA) has determined that certain Michelin LTX AT2 tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires For Light Vehicles. MNA filed an original noncompliance report dated April 14, 2023, and later amended the report on July 3, 2023. MNA subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the ``Agency'') on April 17, 2023, and later amended the petition on July 6, 2023, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of MNA's petition.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is finalizing minor technical amendments to the test procedures for heavy- duty engines and vehicles to improve accuracy and reduce testing burden. These amendments affect the certification procedures for fuel efficiency standards and related requirements. These amendments increase compliance flexibility, harmonize with other requirements, add clarity, correct errors, and streamline the regulations. Given the nature of these changes, NHTSA does not expect either significant environmental impacts or significant economic impacts for any sector.

This final decision responds to petitions filed by several low volume manufacturers requesting exemption from the generally applicable corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for several model years (MYs). The low volume manufacturers and MYs are as follows: Aston Martin Lagonda Limited for MYs 2008-2023, Ferrari N.V. for MYs 2016- 2018 and 2020, Koenigsegg Automotive AB for MYs 2015 and 2018-2023, McLaren Automotive for MYs 2012-2023, Mobility Ventures LLC for MYs 2014-2016, Pagani Automobili S.p.A for MYs 2014 and 2016-2023, and Spyker Automobielen B.V. for MYs 2008-2010. NHTSA is exempting these manufacturers from the generally applicable CAFE standards for the model years listed and establishing alternative standards for each manufacturer at the levels stated below, which the agency has determined to be maximum feasible for each of those manufacturers for the model years in question.

This document grants in full the Toyota Motor North America, Inc.'s (Toyota) petition for exemption from the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (theft prevention standard) for its Subaru Solterra vehicle line beginning in model year (MY) 2025. The petition is granted because the Agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the theft prevention standard. Toyota also requested confidential treatment for specific information in its petition. Therefore, no confidential information provided for purposes of this notice has been disclosed.

Polaris Group of America, Inc., (Polaris), has determined that certain motorcycles manufactured by Indian Motorcycle Company do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Indian Motorcycle Company, on behalf of Polaris, filed an original noncompliance report dated April 13, 2022, and later amended the report on September 9, 2022. Polaris petitioned NHTSA on May 13, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces the denial of Polaris's petition.