Record Retention -- 49 CFR Part 576

This collection is mandatory for all vehicle and equipment manufacturers to respond. The records that are required to be retained per 49 CFR Part 576 are used to promptly identify potential safety-related defects in motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment in the United States. When a trend in incidents arising from a potentially safety-related defect is discovered, NHTSA relies on this information, along with other agency data, to determine whether or not to open a formal defect investigation (as authorized by Title 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 – Motor Vehicle Safety). NHTSA normally becomes aware of possible safety-related defects because it receives consumer complaints. If the manufacturer did not retain its records, NHTSA would be unable to enforce the statutory requirements that the manufacturer notify the agency and other persons of a safety-related defect when the manufacturer “learns” of the defect, and notify the agency and other persons of a noncompliance when it “decides in good faith” that the noncompliance exists. Without access to the manufacturer’s records, it would be impossible for anyone other than the manufacturer to show when or if that manufacturer had obtained knowledge of a potential defect or had determined in good faith that the noncompliance did or did not exist. Without access to manufacturers’ records, NHTSA’s examinations of potential defects and noncompliance would be seriously handicapped. NHTSA could conduct surveys of vehicle owners or use other means to learn of problems with vehicles and equipment, but any of these other methods would require significantly more information collections by the agency and necessitate a larger staff of the agency’s Office of Defect Investigations. The frequency the record retention is a needed. This submission is a reinstatement without change of a previously approved collection.

The latest form for Record Retention -- 49 CFR Part 576 expires 2022-09-30 and can be found here.

Record Retention -- 49 CFR Part 576 -Vehicle and Equipment Manufacturers

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