The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration now has the power to force vehicle and motor vehicle equipment manufacturers -- including tiremakers -- to speed up their programs "to remedy a defect related to motor vehicle safety or a non-compliance with a federal motor vehicle safety standard."
NHTSA says it will "impose this requirement if it determines that the manufacturer's remedy program is not likely to be capable of completion within a reasonable time, and finds that there is a serious risk of injury or death if the remedy program is not accelerated; and that acceleration of the remedy program can be reasonably achieved by expanding the sources of replacement parts, expanding the number of authorized repair facilities, or both."
The rule goes into effect on Jan. 6, 2003.
To read NHTSA's complete document, click on:
