65FR34248A General Motors Corporation; Receipt of Application for Determination of Inconsequential Non-Compliance
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Posting-number: Volume 65, Issue 103, Page 34248A
[Federal Register: May 26, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 103)]
[Notices]
[Page 34248-34249]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26my00-146]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA 2000-7291; Notice 1]
General Motors Corporation; Receipt of Application for
Determination of Inconsequential Non-Compliance
General Motors Corporation (GM) has applied to be exempted from the
notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 ``Motor
Vehicle Safety'' for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, ``Occupant Crash Protection,'' on the basis
that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. GM
has filed a report of a noncompliance pursuant to 49 CFR part 573
``Defects and Noncompliance Report.''
This notice of receipt of the application is published under 49
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or
other exercise of judgement concerning the merits of the application.
Description of Noncompliance
GM has identified a condition in which the required seat belt
audible signal on some 1996-99 Model Year Chevrolet Astro and GMC
Safari vans may occasionally operate for less than the 4 to 8 second
time required. Upon such occurrence, the signal would not fully comply
with the audible signal portion of the S7.3 seat belt warning provision
of FMVSS No. 208. GM has submitted a 49 CFR 573.5 noncompliance
notification to the agency which details the affected vehicles.
Pursuant to section 30118(d) and 30120(h) of Chapter 301 and 49 CFR
part 556, and for reasons set forth, GM requested exemption from the
notification, and remedy provisions of 49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 on the
basis that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle
safety.
``A total of 461,851 1996-99 MY Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari vans
were built with an audible driver seat belt warning system that may, in
a random manner (1) operate properly, (2) terminate the audible signal
in less than the minimum 4 second requirement, or (3) not operate at
all. The possibility of a random noncompliance results from a transient
signal being generated at the seat belt switch input to the audible
signal module when the ignition switch is turned to start and the belt
latch mechanism is not fastened. The module may interpret this
transient signal input as the seat belt latch mechanism being fastened
and thereby terminate the audible tone. The condition is caused by a
ground voltage difference between the seat belt switch and the signal
module creating a transient signal that the module was not designed to
filter. At the time the subject module and associated wiring harness
were developed, GM truck engineering did not have a formal requirement
for electrical grounding and module input filtering.''
``A new module and wiring harness were implemented at the assembly
plant in January 1999, that changed this condition. To prevent this
issue in the future, electrical grounding rules that define specific
requirements for modules and their inputs have been implemented to
evaluate all electrical ground designs during the design review
process. This condition is not present in other GM vehicles with the
same signal module because the respective component ground is
compatible with the module design in other GM products. GM also has
reviewed its warranty is information regarding the subject vehicle's
audible signal. There has been no change in the
[[Page 34249]]
occurrences of customer warranty claims regarding the seat belt audible
signal for the 1995 vehicles, produced prior to this issue, and the
warranty claim made on the vehicles involved.''
Supporting Information Submitted by General Motors
It is GM's understanding that the purpose of the seat belt warning
requirement is to provide a reminder to the vehicle's driver to wear a
seat belt. Section 7.3 of FMVSS 208 currently allows a manufacturer two
alternatives for complying with the seat belt warning requirements. As
Option 1, S7.3(a)(1) essentially requires (1) an audible signal of 4 to
8 seconds, and (2) a minimum 60 second telltale light when the driver
seat belt is unbuckled and the ignition is moved to the ``on'' or
``start'' position. If the driver seat belt is buckled, neither the
audible signal nor the telltale light should be activated when the
ignition is turned to the ``on'' or ``start'' position. As Option 2,
S7.3 (a)(2) essentially requires (1) an audible signal of 4 to 8
seconds when the driver seat belt is unlocked and the ignition is moved
to the ``on'' or ``start'' position, and (2) a 4 to 8 second telltale
light whenever the ignition is moved to the ``on'' or ``start''
position, whether or not the driver seat belt is buckled.
The subject vehicles were designed to Option 1 and comply with the
portion of the requirements to activate a continuous or flashing
warning light for a minimum of 60 seconds if the ignition is turned to
the ``on'' or ``start'' position and the driver seat belt is not
buckled, thus notifying a driver that he/she is not buckled up.
Specifically, the subject vehicles comply with this portion of the
requirement by displaying a continuous warning light for approximately
the first 20 seconds and then a flashing light for approximately 55
seconds if the driver belt is not buckled. The subject vehicles,
therefore, provide a visual warning signal that exceeds the 60 second
duration requirement of Option 2. Furthermore, the design duration of
75 seconds for the visual signal provides a considerable enhancement
over the 4 to 8 second duration requirement allowed by Option 2.
GM believes that the subject vehicles provide an enhanced visual
seat belt warning indicator to remind the driver to wear a seat belt.
Under these particular conditions, GM believes that the noncompliance
to S7.3 f FMVSS 208 is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle
safety, and therefore, requests the affected vehicles exempted from the
notification, recall and remedy provisions of Section 30120 of the
Safety Act.
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments on the petition of GM, described above. Comments should refer
to the Docket Number and be submitted to: Docket Management, National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Room PL 401, 400 7th 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 practicable. When the
application is granted or denied, a Notice will be published in the
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
Comment closing date: June 26, 2000.
(49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and
49 CFR 501.8)
Issued on: May 22, 2000.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 00-13272 Filed 5-25-00; 8:45 am]
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