Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP21-001

Topics:  Porsche 911

Joseph Kolly
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
9 August 2021

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 150 (Monday, August 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43578-43579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16926]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0036]


Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP21-001

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Denial of a petition for a defect investigation.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a 
petition, DP21-001, submitted by Mr. Derek Colvin to NHTSA (the 
``agency'') by a letter dated November 20, 2020. The petition requests 
that the agency initiate a safety defect investigation into an alleged 
defect in the reversing light system experienced in certain Model Year 
(MY) 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera manual transmission vehicles (the 
``subject vehicles''). As the driver shifts the gear into reverse, the 
reversing light fails to illuminate. After conducting a technical 
review of: (1) The consumer complaint submitted by the petitioner; (2) 
consumer complaint information in NHTSA's database; and (3) information 
provided by Porsche in response to our Information Request letter 
regarding reversing light failure to illuminate and complaints received 
by Porsche, NHTSA's Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) has concluded 
that no further investigation of the issue raised by the petition is 
warranted and the agency, accordingly, has denied the petition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Lemeola Kamanya, Vehicle Defect 
Division A, Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 202-366-6065. Email: 
lemeola.kamanya@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Introduction

    Interested persons may petition NHTSA requesting that the agency 
initiate an investigation to determine whether a motor vehicle or item 
of replacement equipment does not comply with an applicable motor 
vehicle motor vehicle safety standard or contains a defect that relates 
to motor vehicle safety. 49 U.S.C. 30162(a)(2); 49 CFR 552.1. Upon 
receipt of a properly filed petition, the agency conducts a technical 
review of the petition, material submitted with the petition and any 
additional information. 49 U.S.C. 30162(a)(2); 49 CFR 552.6. The 
technical review may consist solely of a review of information already 
in the possession of the agency or it may include the collection of 
information from the motor vehicle manufacturer and/or other sources. 
After conducting the technical review and considering appropriate 
factors, which may include, but are not limited to, the nature of the 
complaint, allocation of agency resources, agency priorities, the 
likelihood of uncovering sufficient evidence to establish the existence 
of a defect and the likelihood of success in any necessary enforcement 
litigation, the agency will grant or deny the petition. See 49 U.S.C. 
30162(a)(2); 49 CFR 552.8.

2. Defect Petition Background Information

    In a letter dated November 20, 2020, Mr. Derek Colvin (the 
petitioner) requested that NHTSA initiate a safety defect investigation 
into reversing light failure experienced by operators of model year 
(MY) 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera manual transmission vehicles as the 
driver engages the reverse gear. Mr. Colvin based his request on his 
own experience. NHTSA has based its decision on a review of the 
material cited by the petitioner, information submitted by Porsche in 
response to our Information Request letter and other pertinent 
information in NHTSA's databases.

3. Summary of the Petition

    The petitioner reported that his MY 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 
vehicle equipped with the ZF-sourced seven-speed manual transmission 
experienced

[[Page 43579]]

failure of the reverse lights to illuminate when shifting the vehicle 
into reverse. The petitioner described the fault as detachment of the 
actuator inside the manual transmission. This led to a failure of the 
actuator to make contact with the reversing light switch which is 
threaded into the transmission from the outside.

4. Office of Defects Investigation Analysis

    The reversing lights provide a warning to other drivers and 
pedestrians when the vehicle is reversing. The reversing lights also 
provide some illumination for the driver when reversing at night. 
Failure of the reversing lights can cause an increased hazard to the 
vehicle, its occupants, surrounding vehicles and nearby pedestrians.
    As of April 14, 2021, NHTSA has identified only one consumer 
complaint alleging a failure of the reversing lights in NHTSA's 
database. This complaint was received from the petitioner. Neither 
NHTSA nor Porsche have received any allegations of crashes or injuries 
associated with the failure of the reversing lights to illuminate.
    Porsche determined that the reversing lights on the MY 2012-2015 
Porsche Carrera vehicles were becoming inoperative due to the failure 
of the transmission side actuation mechanism. Porsche determined the 
weld between the shift rod and the stopper plate was below 
manufacturing specifications in some vehicles due to production weld 
process variations. Porsche modified production weld specifications to 
improve the strength and consistency of the weld joint between the 
shift rod and stopper plate.
    In January 2021, Porsche initiated a Service Action (228/20) on MY 
2012-2015 Porsche Carrera vehicles with active notification of 
potentially affected customers to remedy the reversing light failure in 
the affected vehicles. Warranty coverage on the affected components has 
been extended to 15 years from the new vehicle delivery date with 
unlimited mileage. Porsche will replace the transmission in the 
affected vehicles with a new transmission with the modified weld 
specifications for the shift rod-stopper plate joint. NHTSA believes 
there is a high likelihood that many affected vehicles will be remedied 
with this action.
    After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the 
petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information 
submitted by Porsche in response to an Information Request letter and 
the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's 
allegation, as well as Service Action (228/20) initiated by Porsche 
offering extended warranty coverage, NHTSA does not believe that a 
formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of 
appropriate factors, the petition is denied.
    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30162(d); delegations of authority at CFR 1.50 
and 501.8.

Joseph Kolly,
Acting, Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2021-16926 Filed 8-6-21; 8:45 am]
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