National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance
REGISTERED IMPORTER NEWSLETTER No. 7
September 25, 1995
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DO IT RIGHT As a Registered Importer (RI) you are acting on behalf of this agency to ensure that vehicles imported into this country comply with all of the FMVSS before they are released for highway use. We want everyone to operate in a professional manner. Past newsletters have identified areas where improvement was needed and clarified requirements. The following is a list of important items found in various newsletters. Certification Package Newsletters 4, 6, 7 Contracts Newsletter 1 FMVSS Listing Newsletters 6, 7 FMVSS 208 Newsletters 5, 7 FMVSS 214 Newsletters 5, 6, 7 Mercedes-Benz Newsletter 1 Part 541, Theft Newsletter 6 Petitions Newsletters 1, 3, 5 Penalties Newsletters 6, 7 Range Rover Newsletter 2 Recalls Newsletters 1, 6 Resale Newsletter 4 VISA Credit Card Newsletter 7 CLARIFICATION OF Several RIs have asked for clarification of the phase in requirements for FMVSS 214 identified in Newsletter 6. Each year we will be asking for conformation that the phase in requirements have been met. You should identify by year the per cent of MY 94 (manufactured between 9/1/93 - 9/1/94), 1995 and 1996 vehicles imported which complied with the standard. Example: for 1995 identify the per cent of MY 94 and MY 95 vehicles which complied. 10% of all MY 94 vehicles and 25% of all MY 95 must comply. To assist in meeting these requirements as well those of FMVSS 208, lists of U.S. vehicles certified as meeting these requirements are attached. Certification of a U.S. model does not mean that the import model also complies. NHTSA MONITORING In recent months we have increased our monitoring to assure that everyone is following the regulations. Unfortunately we have found that not everyone is. This has forced us to take action against some RIs. Depending upon the violation your registration could be suspended or revoked or you could be fined. A list of possible suspensions is attached to this notice. QUICK REVIEW We are trying to improve the vehicle release times. To accomplish this we need clear photo documentation in certification packages. See Newsletter 6 for the required photos. We will no longer use a magnifying glass or guess at what you are trying to show; it slows the process. If you cannot read the VIN or label or if the photo is not clear, don't send it, it will not be processed. Poor photos will only require you to hold the vehicle longer. SUBMISSION OF Vehicles must be modified and certification packages sent to NHTSA within 120 days of importation. We will be monitoring based upon electronic Custom entry dates. If a certification package is not received after a warning, we will be going after the bond. Sureties have been notified. RENEWALS To maintain registration you need to provide the "Yearly Statement of Registered Importer" in accordance with 49 CFR 592.5(e). Be sure that all information concerning your company is current. This includes ownership and the addresses of all of your facilities. Be sure to include a copy of your recall insurance contract for MY 1996. The annual statement and the renewal fee of $240 must be received before Oct 31, 1995. COMPLIANCE REVIEWS We are still investigating the potential of electronic processing of compliance packages. The first step in this process will probably include submission of data on computer disks. More on this later. VISA CREDIT CARD We are now accepting Visa for required payments. The following attachments were sent with the mailing and are available from George Entwistle on 202-366-5306. 1. Press release 2. FMVSS 214 list 3. FMVSS 208 phase-in 4. Suspensions |
REFERENCE INFORMATION
FMVSSs 101- Controls and Displays (Inspection) 102- Transmission Shift Lever Sequences, etc. (Inspection) 103- Windshield Defrosting and Defogging 104- Windshield Wiping and Washing 105- Hydraulic Brake System 106- Brake Hoses 107- Reflecting Surfaces (Inspection) 108- Lamps, Reflective Devices, etc. 109- Pass. Car New Pneumatic Tires 110- Pass. Car Tire Selection & Rims 111- Rearview Mirrors 112- Headlamp Concealment Devices (Inspection) 113- Hood Latch Systems (Inspection) 114- Theft Protection (Inspection) 115- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) (Inspection) 116- Hydraulic Brake Fluids 117- Retreaded Pneumatic Tires (Inspection) 118- Power-Operated Window Systems 119- Truck/Bus New Pneumatic Tires 120- Truck/Bus Tire Selection/Rims 121- Air Brake Systems 122- Motorcycle Brake Systems 123- Motorcycle Controls and Displays (Inspection) 124- Accelerator Control Systems 125- Warning Devices 126- Truck-Camper Loading 129- Pass. Car New Non-Pneumatic Tires 31- School Bus Pedestrian Safety Devices 135- Passenger Car Brake Systems 201- Occupant Protection in Interior Impact 202- Head Restraints 203- Impact Protection for the Driver from Steering Control 204- Steering Control Rearward Displacement 205- Glazing Materials (Inspection) 206- Door Locks and Door Retention Components 207- Seating Systems 208- Occupant Crash Protection 209- Seat Belt Assemblies 210- Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages 211- Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs, and Hub Caps (Inspection) 212- Windshield Mounting 213- Child Restraint Systems 214- Side Impact Protection 216- Roof Crush Resistance 217- Bus Window Retention and Release 218- Motorcycle Helmets 219- Windshield Zone Intrusion 220- School Bus Rollover Protection 221- School Bus Body Joint Strength 222- School Bus Passenger Seating 301- Fuel System Integrity 302- Flammability of Interior Materials 303- Fuel System Integrity of CNG Vehicles 304- CNG Fuel Container Integrity REGULATIONS P541- Theft Prevention Standard P544- Insurer Reporting Requirements P555- Temporary Exemption from Motor Veh Safety Standards P565- VIN Content Requirements P566- Manufacturer Identification P567- Certification Regulation P568- Vehicles Manufactured in Two or More Stages P569- Regrooved Tires P572- Anthropomorphic Test Dummies P573- Defect and Noncompliance Reports P574- Tire Identification P575.103- Truck-Camper Loading P575.104- Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards (UTQG) P577- Defect and Noncompliance Notification P579- Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility P581- Bumper Standard All questions concerning this newsletter should be directed to George Entwistle, 202-366-5306. |