Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports, Defect and Noncompliance Notification

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is amending several provisions of its regulations pertaining to its enforcement of those sections of 49 U.S.C. chapter 301 that require manufacturers of motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment to notify their dealers and distributors when they or NHTSA decide that vehicles or equipment items contain a defect related to motor vehicle safety or do not comply with a Federal motor vehicle safety standard. The amendment requires manufacturers to furnish dealers and distributors with notification of a safety-related defect or noncompliance in accordance with a schedule that is to be submitted to the agency with the manufacturer's defect or noncompliance information report required by 49 CFR 573.6. The notification to dealers must be provided within a reasonable time after the manufacturer decides that the defect or noncompliance exists. If the agency finds that the public interest requires dealers and distributors to be notified at an earlier date than that proposed by the manufacturer, the manufacturer must provide the required notification in accordance with the agency's directive. The amendment also sets forth the required content of the dealer notification and the manner in which such notification is to be accomplished.