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A Review of Past NHTSA Defect Investigations

Dale Kardos & Associates, Inc. has released an update of its report, “A Review of Past NHTSA Defect Investigation.”  The report consists of defect precedent tables (developed by DKA Inc.) for thirty-five of the most frequently investigated defect areas.  These include:

ABS

Accelerator Pedal

Ball Joint

Brake Lamp/Switch

Brake Line

Coil Spring

ESC

Eng. Comp. Fire

Explosion

Frame

Fuel Leak

Fuel Tank Puncture

Glazing

Head Lamps

Ignition

Parking Brake

Power Steering

Rack & Pinion

Refueling

Seatback

Seatbelts

Side Airbag

Sliding Door

Speed Control

Stalling

Steering Column

Steering Wheel

Suspension

Tailgate

Throttle

Turn Signal

Transmission

Wheel Rim

Wheel Separation

Windshield Wiper

 

Each precedent table contains the following information:

 

Make/Model

MY

NHTSA Case ID #

Population

Problem

Investigation Statistics

  Complaint Rate per 100,000 vehicles

  Crash Rate per 100,000 vehicles

  Fire Rate per 100,000 vehicles

  Injury Rate per 100,000 vehicles

  Fatality Rate per 100,000 vehicles

  Warranty Rate as a percent of the recall population

Investigation Outcome Summary

 

The information contained in the defect precedent tables has been compiled from the Closing Resumes prepared by NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations (ODI).  Altogether, there are approximately 478 separate investigations included in the 35 precedent tables.

To download a sample of an earlier version of the report, click Download SAMPLE REPORT.

The report is available for purchase.  To inquire, please contact Dale Kardos via email at dale.kardos@motorvehicleregs.com or by phone at (202) 306-4997.

 

NHTSA Publishes Interim Guidance for Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Equipped with High Voltage Batteries

NHTSA has published Interim Guidance for Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Equipped with High Voltage Batteries (DOT HS 811 574). Developed with the assistance and expert input of the National Fire Protection Association, the Department of Energy (DOE) and others, the interim guidance for electric and hybrid-electric vehicles identifies appropriate post-crash safety measures for vehicle owners and the general public, emergency responders, and for towing/recovery operators and vehicle storage facilities.

This interim guidance is intended to serve as a general reference for vehicle operators and responders. It was developed using current best practices and instructions from vehicle and battery manufacturers and others. It is not intended to replace information issued by the vehicle manufacturer, but rather to be used as a supplement to vehicle-specific guides.

NHTSA, together with the Department of Energy, is continuing to explore strategies to ensure that the public and responder community receive the best information in the shortest possible time. The agency hope that this guidance will help to inform activities to educate responders and the public about electric vehicles including efforts already underway by DOE, NFPA, vehicle manufacturers, and others.

 

Part 575 Consumer Information (Tire fuel Efficiency Rating Information)

On January 25, 2012, NHTSA will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing that will hold a public workshop in San Francisco, CA on Feb. 3, 2012 to obtain input on how the agency should amend its consumer information program in 49 CFR Part 575 so as to promote the tire fuel efficiency.  This upcoming workshop follows up on NHTSA's March 30, 2010 final rule which required tire manufacturers rate the fuel efficiency of their tires. The final rule did not specify how the information would be explained or provided to consumers which is now the task at hand.  Based on the input received from the workshop, NHTSA intends to publish a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking. 

Persons interested in participating in the workshop may want to review documents concerning research NHTSA has finalized since the March 2010 final rule.  Participants should also know that NHTSA is especially interested in receiving input on the following topics:

1) rolling resistance coefficient (RRC) versus Rolling resistance force (RRF),

2) experience in other countries,

3) laboratory alignment, and

4) future production. 

Persons wishing to attend or speak at the workshop must register in advance no later than Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 and written comments must be received by Feb. 17, 2012. 

NHTSA contact: Mary Versailles, Tel: 202-366-2057, Office of International Vehicle, Fuel Economy and Consumer Standards, mary.versailles@dot.gov.

 

Backup Camera Rule

On January 10, 2012, DOT Secretary LaHood informed Congress that the agency will be extending the deadline for issuing the Rear Visibility Final Rule until February 29, 2012.  Previously, Secretary LaHood had told Congress that the final rule would be issued by December 31, 2011.

 

NHTSA Proposes Rule to Address Panic Stops in Vehicles with Push Button Ignition Systems

NHTSA has published a proposal to addresses safety issues arising from increased availability of ignition systems that do not use physical keys to start and stop passenger motor vehicles’ engines or other propulsion systems. Consider it fallout from the Toyota saga.  

At issue are drivers’ inability to stop a moving vehicle in a panic situation, and drivers who unintentionally leave the vehicle without the vehicle transmission’s being locked in “park,” or with the engine still running, increasing the chances of vehicle rollaway or carbon monoxide poisoning in an enclosed area. 

In the NPRM, among other matters, NHTSA proposes to standardize the length of time it is necessary to push a control to stop the vehicle engine or other propulsion system. NHTSA is also proposing to require that an audible warning be given to any driver who: (1) attempts to shut down the propulsion system without first moving the gear selection control to the “park” position (for vehicles with a “park” position); (2) exits a vehicle without having first moved the gear selection control to “park” (for vehicles with a “park” position), or (3) exits a vehicle without first turning off the propulsion system.

The proposal would, if finalized:

• Clarify that definitions for “key” and “starting system” currently in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114 apply to all propulsion systems.
• Propose a new definition for “key code carrying device.”
• Propose to revise the definition of “starting system.”
• Propose a new definition for “stop control.”
• Delete the door opening alert exclusion currently in FMVSS No. 114 for a running vehicle (only for vehicles equipped with keyless ignition).
• Add requirements for the operation of a pushed stop control: the driver must hold the control for a minimum of 500 milliseconds to shut down the propulsion system, whether the vehicle is moving or stationary, and the propulsion system must shut down within 1 second of the initial push of the stop control.
• Add a requirement for an internal alert to the driver when s/he requests propulsion system shut down without first placing the gear selection control in “park.”
• Add a requirement for an external alert that the driver and bystanders can hear when the vehicle is not in “park” and the driver exits the vehicle.
• Add a requirement for an external alert that sounds when the driver leaves a keyless ignition vehicle with the propulsion system active.
• Add new test procedures for the new requirements.

NHTSA proposes a lead time of two years from the next September 1 after a final rule is published in the FEDERAL REGISTER. 

The deadline for comments will be around March 9, 2012.

A copy of the proposal is available here.

 

Low Volume Manufacturers Act of 2011

On October 27, 2011, Rep. Campbell (R-CA) introduced  legislation that would essentially exempt  manufacturers producing one thousand vehicles per year or less from the safety standards and allow them to bypass the EPA certification system by using previously certified engines that are compliant with the OBD II evap standards.  The bill was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.  It is co-sponsored by Representatives Posey (R-FL), Manzullo (R-IL), Blackburn (R-TN), Hunter (R-CA), and Barrow (D-GA). 

 

FMVSS 208 Lockability Requirement Sunset Removed

On August 29 NHTSA will publish a notice in the Federal Register amending FMVSS 208 to remove the sunset of a requirement that a vehicle’s lap belt must be lockable, without the use of special tools, to tightly secure a child restraint system.  Absent this amendment, this lockability requirement would have ceased to exist on Sep. 1, 2012.  The final rule ensures that the lockability requirement continues in effect for all seating positions past September 1, 2012.  Docket reference: NHTSA-2008-0149.

 

EV Shock Protection

On July 29, 2011 NHTSA will publish a final rule responding to petitions for reconsideration of a 2010 final rule that amended the electrical shock protection requirements to facilitate the development and introduction of fuel cell vehicles and the next generation of hybrid and battery electric powered  vehicles.  This new final rule addresses issues raised in the petitions for reconsideration relating to the scope and applicability of the standard, the definitions in the standard, the retention requirements for electric energy storage/conversion systems, the electrical isolation requirements, the test specifications and requirements for electrical isolation monitoring, the state-of-charge of electric energy storage devices prior to the crash tests, a proposed protective barrier compliance option for electrical safety, the use of alternative gas to crash test hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and a proposed low-energy compliance option for electrical safety.    

The effective date of this final rule is September 1, 2011 with optional early compliance.   

NHTSA contact: Ms. Shashi Kuppa, Office of Crashworthiness Standards (telephone:  202-366-3827).

Docket reference: NHTSA-2011-0107 

 

Sudden Acceleration in Toyota Vehicles

On March 3, 2011, NASA presented the findings contained in its study of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles to the NAS panel of experts tasked with studying this issue for NHTSA. The NASA study attempted to answer the following questions:

• What specific conditions, both internal and external, are necessary for these failure conditions to occur? 

• Are those conditions evident in the reported cases?
  • What physical or electronic evidence does the failure produce?  
  • What are the expected ranges in severity?
  • Could the failure have any effect on other interfaces, such as braking system?  

The NASA study made the following findings:

• NASA detailed analysis and testing did not find evidence that malfunctions in electronic throttle control caused large unintended accelerations, as described by some consumer reports.
• NASA found a way that the electronic throttle control can fail, that combined with driver input, can cause the throttle to jump to 15^o open, but consumer reports of this condition is very low and it leaves evidence of occurrence.
  • NASA found ways that the electronic throttle control can fail that results in small throttle openings up to 5^o.   

For a copy of the presentation NASA gave to the NAS panel, click here (Download NASA support to NHTSA - NAS outbrief 03 03 11).

NHTSA Grants Wheego Temporary Advanced Air Bag Exemption

In a Federal Register notice, NHTSA is granting the petition of Wheego Electric Cars, Inc. for a temporary exemption of its Whip LiFe model from certain advanced air bag requirements of FMVSS No. 208.  The basis for the exemption is that the exemption would facilitate the development or field evaluation of a low-emission motor vehicle and would not unreasonably reduce the safety level of that vehicle.  The exemption is effective immediately, conditioned upon Wheego’s submission to NHTSA, at least 30 days prior to the first delivery of the LiFe to a distributor or dealer for sale in the United States, the certification test data and other data in support of the certification of the LiFe’s compliance with certain FMVSSs.  This exemption is to remain in effect until February 11, 2013.