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Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73

§30147 Responsibility for defects and noncompliance

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VI— - MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - GENERAL › Chapter CHAPTER 301— - MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - IMPORTING NONCOMPLYING MOTOR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT › § 30147

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When a vehicle made for import into the United States is found to have a safety defect or to not meet a safety rule, another imported vehicle that has a valid import certification and is judged to be substantially similar must be treated the same. The maker or the registered importer can prove to the Secretary of Transportation that the similar vehicle is different. A registered importer is treated as the vehicle’s manufacturer for any vehicle it imports or brings into compliance. The Secretary must publish a notice of any such defect or noncompliance in the Federal Register. The Secretary must also require each registered importer (and any successor) to keep proof that they have enough financial responsibility to meet their legal obligations under sections 30117(b), 30118–30121, and 30166(f).

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §30147

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)In carrying out section 30117(b), 30118–30121, and 30166(f) of this title—
(A)for a defect or noncompliance with an applicable motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter for a motor vehicle originally manufactured for import into the United States, an imported motor vehicle having a valid certification under section 30146(a)(1) of this title and decided to be substantially similar to that motor vehicle shall be deemed as having the same defect or as not complying with the same standard unless the manufacturer or importer registered under section 30141(c) of this title demonstrates otherwise to the Secretary of Transportation; and
(B)the registered importer shall be deemed to be the manufacturer of any motor vehicle that the importer imports or brings into compliance with the standards for an individual under section 30142 of this title.
(2)The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register notice of any defect or noncompliance under paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection.
(b)The Secretary shall require by regulation each registered importer (including any successor in interest) to provide and maintain evidence, satisfactory to the Secretary, of sufficient financial responsibility to meet its obligations under section 30117(b), 30118–30121, and 30166(f) of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 30147(a)15:1397(d)(1).Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, 80 Stat. 718, § 108(d); added Oct. 31, 1988, Pub. L. 100–562, § 2(b), 102 Stat. 2821. 30147(b)15:1397(d)(2). In this section, the words “(relating to discovery, notification, and remedy of motor vehicle defects)” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (a)(1)(A), the words “for a motor vehicle” are substituted for “in, or regarding, any motor vehicle” to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (a)(1)(B), the word “compliance” is substituted for “conformity” for consistency in this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 30147

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73