Sec 30118 Notification of defects and noncompliance

§ 30118. Notification of defects and noncompliance, 49 USCA § 30118

United States Code Annotated
Title 49. Transportation (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle VI. Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs
Part A. General
Chapter 301. Motor Vehicle Safety (Refs & Annos)
Subchapter II. Standards and Compliance
49 U.S.C.A. § 30118
§ 30118. Notification of defects and noncompliance
Effective: December 4, 2015
Currentness
(a) Notification by Secretary.--The Secretary of Transportation shall notify the manufacturer of a motor vehicle or replacement
equipment immediately after making an initial decision (through testing, inspection, investigation, or research carried out under
this chapter, examining communications under section 30166(f) of this title, or otherwise) that the vehicle or equipment contains
a defect related to motor vehicle safety or does not comply with an applicable motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under
this chapter. The notification shall include the information on which the decision is based. The Secretary shall publish a notice
of each decision under this subsection in the Federal Register. Subject to section 30167(a) of this title, the notification and
information are available to any interested person.
(b) Defect and noncompliance proceedings and orders.--(1) The Secretary may make a final decision that a motor vehicle or
replacement equipment contains a defect related to motor vehicle safety or does not comply with an applicable motor vehicle
safety standard prescribed under this chapter only after giving the manufacturer an opportunity to present information, views,
and arguments showing that there is no defect or noncompliance or that the defect does not affect motor vehicle safety. Any
interested person also shall be given an opportunity to present information, views, and arguments.
(2) If the Secretary decides under paragraph (1) of this subsection that the vehicle or equipment contains the defect or does not
comply, the Secretary shall order the manufacturer to-(A) give notification under section 30119 of this title to the owners, purchasers, and dealers of the vehicle or equipment of
the defect or noncompliance; and
(B) remedy the defect or noncompliance under section 30120 of this title.
(c) Notification by manufacturer.--A manufacturer of a motor vehicle or replacement equipment shall notify the Secretary
by certified mail or electronic mail, and the owners, purchasers, and dealers of the vehicle or equipment as provided in section
30119(d) of this section, if the manufacturer-(1) learns the vehicle or equipment contains a defect and decides in good faith that the defect is related to motor vehicle
safety; or

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§ 30118. Notification of defects and noncompliance, 49 USCA § 30118

(2) decides in good faith that the vehicle or equipment does not comply with an applicable motor vehicle safety standard
prescribed under this chapter.
(d) Exemptions.--On application of a manufacturer, the Secretary shall exempt the manufacturer from this section if the
Secretary decides a defect or noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. The Secretary may take action under
this subsection only after notice in the Federal Register and an opportunity for any interested person to present information,
views, and arguments.
(e) Hearings about meeting notification requirements.--On the motion of the Secretary or on petition of any interested person,
the Secretary may conduct a hearing to decide whether the manufacturer has reasonably met the notification requirements
under this section. Any interested person may make written and oral presentations of information, views, and arguments on
whether the manufacturer has reasonably met the notification requirements. If the Secretary decides that the manufacturer has
not reasonably met the notification requirements, the Secretary shall order the manufacturer to take specified action to meet
those requirements and may take any other action authorized under this chapter.
CREDIT(S)
(Pub.L. 103-272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 950; Pub.L. 106-346, § 101(a) [Title III, § 364], Oct. 23, 2000, 114 Stat.
1356, 1356A-37; Pub.L. 106-414, § 2, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1800; Pub.L. 114-94, Div. B, Title XXIV, § 24104(b), Dec. 4,
2015, 129 Stat. 1703.)
49 U.S.C.A. § 30118, 49 USCA § 30118
Current through P.L. 116-50.
End of Document

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