49 CFR Part 576 (up to date as of 5-02-2024) (1)

49 CFR Part 576 (up to date as of 5/02/2024)
Record Retention

49 CFR Part 576 (May 2, 2024)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 49 —Transportation
Subtitle B —Other Regulations Relating to Transportation
Chapter V —National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
Part 576 Record Retention
§ 576.1 Scope.
§ 576.2 Purpose.
§ 576.3 Application.
§ 576.4 Definitions.
§ 576.5 Basic requirements.
§ 576.6 Records.
§ 576.7 Retention.
§ 576.8 Malfunctions covered.

PART 576—RECORD RETENTION
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322(a), 30117, 30120(g), 30141-30147; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.
Source: 39 FR 30045, Aug. 20, 1974, unless otherwise noted.

Editorial Note: For an interpretation document regarding part 576, see 40 FR 3296, Jan. 21, 1975.
§ 576.1 Scope.
This part establishes requirements for the retention by manufacturers of motor vehicles and of motor vehicle
equipment, of claims, complaints, reports, and other records concerning alleged and proven motor vehicle or motor
vehicle equipment defects and malfunctions that may be related to motor vehicle safety.
[67 FR 45872, July 10, 2002]

§ 576.2 Purpose.
The purpose of this part is to preserve records that are needed for the proper investigation, and adjudication or
other disposition, of possible defects related to motor vehicle safety and instances of nonconformity to the motor
vehicle safety standards and associated regulations.

§ 576.3 Application.
This part applies to all manufacturers of motor vehicles, with respect to all records generated or acquired on or after
August 16, 1969, and to all manufacturers of motor vehicle equipment, with respect to all records in their
possession, generated or acquired on or after August 9, 2002.

49 CFR 576.3 (enhanced display)

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49 CFR Part 576 (up to date as of 5/02/2024)
Record Retention

49 CFR 576.4

[67 FR 45873, July 10, 2002]

§ 576.4 Definitions.
All terms in this part that are defined in 49 U.S.C. 30102 and part 579 of this chapter are used as defined therein.
[67 FR 45873, July 10, 2002]

§ 576.5 Basic requirements.
(a) Each manufacturer of motor vehicles, child restraint systems, and tires shall retain, as specified in § 576.7
of this part, all records described in § 576.6 of this part for a period of five calendar years from the date
on which they were generated or acquired by the manufacturer.
(b) Each manufacturer of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment shall retain, as specified in § 576.7 of
this part, all the underlying records on which the information reported under part 579 of this chapter is
based, for a period of five calendar years from the date on which they were generated or acquired by the
manufacturer, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.
(c) Manufacturers need not retain copies of documents transmitted to NHTSA pursuant to parts 573, 577,
and 579 of this chapter.
[67 FR 45873, July 10, 2002]

§ 576.6 Records.
Records to be maintained by manufacturers under this part include all documentary materials, films, tapes, and
other information-storing media that contain information concerning malfunctions that may be related to motor
vehicle safety. Such records include, but are not limited to, reports and other documents, including material
generated or communicated by computer, telefax or other electronic means, that are related to work performed
under warranties; and any lists, compilations, analyses, or discussions of such malfunctions contained in internal or
external correspondence of the manufacturer, including communications transmitted electronically.
[67 FR 45873, July 10, 2002]

§ 576.7 Retention.
Duplicate copies need not be retained. Information may be reproduced or transferred from one storage medium to
another (e.g., from paper files to microfilm) as long as no information is lost in the reproduction or transfer, and
when so reproduced or transferred the original form may be treated as a duplicate.

§ 576.8 Malfunctions covered.
For purposes of this part, “malfunctions that may be related to motor vehicle safety” shall include, with respect to a
motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment, any failure or malfunction beyond normal deterioration in use, or
any failure of performance, or any flaw or unintended deviation from design specifications, that could in any
reasonably foreseeable manner be a causative factor in, or aggravate, an accident or an injury to a person.

49 CFR 576.8 (enhanced display)

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