9.4 - NHTSA (NATIONAL HIGHWAYS TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION)

• This can be searched for: Complaints  Defect Investigations  Safety Recalls  Technical Service Bulletins  Foreign Campaigns  From January 1st 1995
  

• Jan 3 2002 : Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Report: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Report Number MH-2002-071[PDF] Presents results of a review of the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) performed at the request of Senator John McCain, Ranking Minority Member, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science , and Transportation.  http://www.oig.dot.gov/show_pdf.php?id=662

• Nov 1 1999: A Simple Case of Sudden Acceleration Or So It Seemed at First to Bob Young : by ANNA WILDE MATHEWS Staff Reporter THE WALL STREET JOURNAL November 1, 1999  [Connection of flashers into the brake light circuit on police and emergency vehicles may compromise shift lock performance and thus increase the possibility of a sudden acceleration incident.    Archived at  http://www.cs.york.ac.uk/hise/safety-critical-archive/1999/0215.html 
  

• May 1994 Reinhart, W. The effect of countermeasures to reduce the incidence of unintended acceleration incidents National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration United States Paper No 94 S5 0 07 Fourteenth International Technical Conference on Enhanced Safety in Vehicles Munich Germany May 23-26 1994Abstract: This paper provides a description of "Unintended Acceleration" UA in passenger cars, provides dtat pertaining to the scope of the problem (number of accidents and injuries reported annually to NHTSA), Identifies the known causes of UA, discusses countermeasures to reduce the incidence of US,and provides analysis to assess the reducitons in the UA incident rates which have resulted from the use of automatic shift locks. UA Reports are defined as incidents of high powered unwanted vehicle acceleration from a stationary position or very slow speed, accompanied by reportedly ineffective brakes. Previous studies and investigations performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and by Canadian and Japanese Governement agencies have concluded that the major causes of such incidents has been drivers unknowingly depressing the accelerator instead of the brake pedal on automatic transmission equipped cars. BBased on Data from NHTSA's computerized consumer complaints file system, and information obtained in the course of agency defect investigations, the paper concludes that the best  known countermeasure to US has been factory installation of automatic shift lock systems which prevent the driver from shifting the transmission ot of Park unless the brake pedal is being applied simultaneously. A comparison of reported UA accident rates (accidents per vehicle produced) for automatic transmission equipped cars indicates that the cars equipped with shift locks have experienced UA accidents at approximately 1/2 to 1/4 the rate of comparable cars without shiftlocks. Also the effect on UA of retrofitting shift locks on one particular make/model is assessed.
• September 1989 Brackett, R.Q., Pezoldt, V.J., Sherrod, M.G. Human Factors Analysis of Automotive Foot Pedals  DOT  HS 807512 US Depertment of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration "The results of a literature review, field measurements and experimental studies led to the development of a set of recommendations for the design and layout of foot pedals which conform to the expectancies and preferences of a large portion of the driving population. Recommendations are provided for automobiles equipped with automatic transmissions."
  
• January 1989 :  “An Examination of Sudden Acceleration” by John Pollard and E.Donald Sussman (Report DOT-TSC-NHTSA-89-1)  This includes as Appendix H the 1988 NHTSA Report on sudden accelerations in Audis.
• November 1976 NHTSA Report "Investigation of Electromagnetic interference effects on motor vehicle electronic control and safety devices" Espeland, R.H., Layton, D.H., Warner, B.D.,  Teters, L.R. Morrison, E.L. DOT Report HS 802 107 Abstract: This report sumarizes the analysis and measurement tasks accomplished for this phase of the DoT Road Vehicle EMC/EMI program and the contents of EMC Guidelines proposed for the design and maintenance phases of electronic safety and control systems. A computerized
  
• October 1975 NHTSA Report "Investigation of Electromagnetic interference effects on motor vehicle electronic control and safety devices" Espeland, R.H., Jacobsen, L.A., Teters, L.R. Morrison, E.L. DOT Report HS 801-737 Abstract: This report describes the results of a study to investigate, identify, and analyse the potential problems of electromagnetic interference from all sources (inernal and external to the vehicle) that may cause malfunction of motor vehicle electronic control and electronically actuated safety devices. This program accomplishes an analysis of inter- and intra-vehicle energy transfer and coupling by computer simulation, utilising DOD developed modelling techniques that have been employed for a wide range of EMS/EMI design and evaluation support problems. These applications have included aircraft, spacecraft and advanced surface ships. A computerized circuit analysis model adapted from the IBM Electronic Circuit Analysis Program (ECAP)  is used to assess susceptibility of representative types of electonic components and subsystems typically used in automotive electronic applications.A preliminary EM environmental source file is provided based on a literature seach of vehicular internal noise sources and worse case external electromagnetic field descriptions. Validatin test plans and preliminary EMC guidelines for automotive electronics are summarised.

• January 29 2004 : (MY) 1996 and 1997 General Motors J-cars (Chevrolet Cavaliers and Pontiac Sunbirds) NHTSA Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP03–007 http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-1864.htm
• September 22 2003 : LEXUS MODEL YEARS 1997-2000 :  NHTSA Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP03–003 :  [Notices  55076-79  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 183 / Monday, September 22, 2003] Notice describing the reasons for denying a petition dated April 25, 2003 submitted to NHTSA under 49 U.S.C. 30162, by Mr. Peter  Boddaert requesting that the agency conduct a Petition Analysis ‘‘covering Lexus cars, model years 1997 to 2000, model series 300 & 400.’’ Mr. Boddaert, made this request after experiencing at least three events involving alleged  unintended engine speed increase in his model year (MY) 1999 Lexus LS 400. The third of these resulted in a crash when his vehicle rear-ended another  stopped at a traffic light. According to the petitioner, his Lexus was inspected by multiple dealers, and no mechanical cause was ever identified that would explain what happened in any of the three incidents. Petition denied [See reference above to current NHTSA investigation into 2002-2003 vehicles] http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-24144.pdf 
  

• September 20 2002 : CHRYSLER JEEP AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE: NHTSA Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition   59330A [Federal Register Vol. 67, 183 Friday, Sep 20, 2002] This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition submitted to NHTSA under 49 U.S.C. 30162 by Mr. William Sayler, requesting the Agency commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect related to motor vehicle safety in certain Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee vehicles. After a review of the petition and other information, NHTSA has concluded that further investigation of the Agency’s investigative resources on the issues raised by the petition does not appear warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition. The petition is hereinafter identified as DP 02-0005 [Petition submitted April 11 2002] Document can be found in PDF downloadable form at: http://www.rdaweb.com/jeepsa/jeep.htm
• Motor Vehicle Petition DP 02-005  [Jeep Cherokee & Grand Cherokee]  An overview of Research and Findings in the Investigation of Sudden Acceleration Incidents involving Model Year 1991 through 1995 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokees. March 27 2002. Formal Defect Petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Authors: Sayler, Walter D., Bizzak, David J., Nocivelli, Robert A. Document can be found in PDF downloadable form at: http://www.rdaweb.com/jeepsa/jeep.htm
  
• Previous requests for NHTSA investigations: 
• Centre for Auto Safety request to NHTSA 23/04/96 for higher level investigation
• Centre for Auto Safety request to NHTSA 13/07/90 for higher level investigation

• April 2000 : FORD [McMath Petition] NHTSA Denial of Motor Vehicle Petition DP99-004  SUMMARY: This notice describes the reasons for denying a petition

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