NHTSA Seeks Comments on Defect Reporting Forms
Published Date: 2/14/2025
Notice
Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is asking for your thoughts on continuing their current way of collecting info about possible vehicle defects. This affects car makers, safety experts, and anyone who reports safety issues. No changes or new costs are planned, but comments are due by March 17, 2025, so don’t miss your chance to weigh in!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual Compliance Time Burden Quantified
NHTSA estimates the total annual burden for the collection is 51,327 hours across about 273 manufacturers. Example subpart figures include 17,615 Sec. 579.5 notices annually (1,468 hours; $78,387 labor cost), 262 foreign campaign reports and 99 annual foreign-product lists (1,677 hours; $164,021 labor cost), and quarterly reporting labor costs estimated at $167,262 (3,664 hours).
Three‑Year Extension of Part 579 Reporting
NHTSA is seeking OMB approval to extend without change the information collection covering 49 CFR part 579 (OMB Control No. 2127-0616) for 3 years from the date of approval. The extension keeps current reporting obligations in place for manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment.
Specific Reporting Deadlines Continue
Under the existing rules that are being extended, manufacturers must: submit Sec. 579.5 communications monthly and email them to NHTSA within 5 working days after the end of the month; report foreign recalls or campaigns to NHTSA within 5 working days after the manufacturer determines or receives notice; submit the annual foreign-products list not later than November 1 each year; and report death/injury incidents within 60 days of the end of the quarter in which the manufacturer received a qualifying claim or notice.
Enforcement Risk for Non‑Reporting
NHTSA states it may correct isolated reporting errors, but if it detects a pattern of reporting non-compliance it may open a formal investigation and manufacturers may be assessed penalties for non-compliance with part 579 reporting requirements.
Public Comment Opportunity — March 17, 2025
NHTSA requests public comments on this extension by March 17, 2025. Comments can be submitted via https://www.regulations.gov, fax, mail, or hand delivery and must reference Docket No. NHTSA-2024-0055.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19964, The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
The SAFE Vehicles Rule III updates fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks from 2022 to 2031, making sure manufacturers build vehicles that better match what American families want and need. This rule changes how fuel efficiency is measured and sets new deadlines starting November 30, 2026. It aims to save money at the pump and help the environment by encouraging smarter, more affordable vehicle designs.
2026-11072, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214; Side Impact Protection; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 305a; Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 307; Fuel System Integrity of Hydrogen Vehicles
Starting July 6, 2026, car makers must follow updated safety rules that clean up old, outdated side-impact protection standards and fix related rules for electric and hydrogen vehicles. These changes make the rules clearer without adding new costs or big changes for manufacturers. If anyone wants to challenge the updates, they have until July 20, 2026, to speak up.
2026-08144, Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures
The Department of Transportation is bringing back and improving its rules for making new policies, giving guidance, and enforcing laws. This affects anyone involved in transportation regulations, making the process clearer and more consistent. These changes kick in on May 27, 2026, aiming to save time and avoid confusion without adding extra costs.
2026-05024, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 102 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles
NHTSA wants to update a safety rule to help self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or gear shifts. They’re proposing to remove the need for a gear position display in these automated vehicles, cutting costs without hurting safety. If you have thoughts, speak up by April 15, 2026!
2026-05023, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 103 and FMVSS No. 104 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Incorporation by Reference
NHTSA is updating rules for windshield defrosting, defogging, wiping, and washing to better fit self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or pedals. These cars won’t have to follow old rules meant for human drivers, cutting costs and unnecessary requirements without hurting safety. The changes kick in about six months after the final rule, and manufacturers can still add these features if they want.
2025-22674, Public Hearing for Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards: The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicle Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
The government is holding a virtual public hearing on January 7, 2026, about new fuel economy rules for cars and light trucks from 2022 to 2031. These rules aim to keep vehicles safer and more affordable while improving fuel efficiency. If you care about how much gas your car uses or how much you pay at the pump, this is your chance to speak up before the rules are finalized.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-02613, Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Department of Agriculture is asking for public feedback on a form called the Self Certification Medical Statement, which helps keep food and farms safe. They want to make sure the form is useful, clear, and not too much work for people to fill out. Comments are open until March 17, 2025, so anyone affected should speak up before then!
Next: 2025-02616, Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Adopt Fees for Unitized Logical Ports, a New Connectivity Offering for Its Equity Options Platform and Adopt New Average Daily Quote and Average Daily Order Fees
Cboe BZX Exchange just rolled out new fees for their cool Unitized Logical Ports, a fresh way to connect to their equity options platform. They’re also updating fees based on how many quotes and orders traders send daily. These changes kicked in right away on February 3, 2025, so traders should check their costs and get ready to adapt!