[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 150 (Monday, August 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43578-43579]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16926]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0036]

Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP21-001

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Denial of a petition for a defect investigation.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a
petition, DP21-001, submitted by Mr. Derek Colvin to NHTSA (the
``agency'') by a letter dated November 20, 2020. The petition requests
that the agency initiate a safety defect investigation into an alleged
defect in the reversing light system experienced in certain Model Year
(MY) 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera manual transmission vehicles (the
``subject vehicles''). As the driver shifts the gear into reverse, the
reversing light fails to illuminate. After conducting a technical
review of: (1) The consumer complaint submitted by the petitioner; (2)
consumer complaint information in NHTSA's database; and (3) information
provided by Porsche in response to our Information Request letter
regarding reversing light failure to illuminate and complaints received
by Porsche, NHTSA's Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) has concluded
that no further investigation of the issue raised by the petition is
warranted and the agency, accordingly, has denied the petition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Lemeola Kamanya, Vehicle Defect
Division A, Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>. Email:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Introduction

    Interested persons may petition NHTSA requesting that the agency
initiate an investigation to determine whether a motor vehicle or item
of replacement equipment does not comply with an applicable motor
vehicle motor vehicle safety standard or contains a defect that relates
to motor vehicle safety. 49 U.S.C. 30162(a)(2); 49 CFR 552.1. Upon
receipt of a properly filed petition, the agency conducts a technical
review of the petition, material submitted with the petition and any
additional information. 49 U.S.C. 30162(a)(2); 49 CFR 552.6. The
technical review may consist solely of a review of information already
in the possession of the agency or it may include the collection of
information from the motor vehicle manufacturer and/or other sources.
After conducting the technical review and considering appropriate
factors, which may include, but are not limited to, the nature of the
complaint, allocation of agency resources, agency priorities, the
likelihood of uncovering sufficient evidence to establish the existence
of a defect and the likelihood of success in any necessary enforcement
litigation, the agency will grant or deny the petition. See 49 U.S.C.
30162(a)(2); 49 CFR 552.8.

2. Defect Petition Background Information

    In a letter dated November 20, 2020, Mr. Derek Colvin (the
petitioner) requested that NHTSA initiate a safety defect investigation
into reversing light failure experienced by operators of model year
(MY) 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera manual transmission vehicles as the
driver engages the reverse gear. Mr. Colvin based his request on his
own experience. NHTSA has based its decision on a review of the
material cited by the petitioner, information submitted by Porsche in
response to our Information Request letter and other pertinent
information in NHTSA's databases.

3. Summary of the Petition

    The petitioner reported that his MY 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera
vehicle equipped with the ZF-sourced seven-speed manual transmission
experienced

failure of the reverse lights to illuminate when shifting the vehicle
into reverse. The petitioner described the fault as detachment of the
actuator inside the manual transmission. This led to a failure of the
actuator to make contact with the reversing light switch which is
threaded into the transmission from the outside.

4. Office of Defects Investigation Analysis

    The reversing lights provide a warning to other drivers and
pedestrians when the vehicle is reversing. The reversing lights also
provide some illumination for the driver when reversing at night.
Failure of the reversing lights can cause an increased hazard to the
vehicle, its occupants, surrounding vehicles and nearby pedestrians.
    As of April 14, 2021, NHTSA has identified only one consumer
complaint alleging a failure of the reversing lights in NHTSA's
database. This complaint was received from the petitioner. Neither
NHTSA nor Porsche have received any allegations of crashes or injuries
associated with the failure of the reversing lights to illuminate.
    Porsche determined that the reversing lights on the MY 2012-2015
Porsche Carrera vehicles were becoming inoperative due to the failure
of the transmission side actuation mechanism. Porsche determined the
weld between the shift rod and the stopper plate was below
manufacturing specifications in some vehicles due to production weld
process variations. Porsche modified production weld specifications to
improve the strength and consistency of the weld joint between the
shift rod and stopper plate.
    In January 2021, Porsche initiated a Service Action (228/20) on MY
2012-2015 Porsche Carrera vehicles with active notification of
potentially affected customers to remedy the reversing light failure in
the affected vehicles. Warranty coverage on the affected components has
been extended to 15 years from the new vehicle delivery date with
unlimited mileage. Porsche will replace the transmission in the
affected vehicles with a new transmission with the modified weld
specifications for the shift rod-stopper plate joint. NHTSA believes
there is a high likelihood that many affected vehicles will be remedied
with this action.
    After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the
petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information
submitted by Porsche in response to an Information Request letter and
the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's
allegation, as well as Service Action (228/20) initiated by Porsche
offering extended warranty coverage, NHTSA does not believe that a
formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of
appropriate factors, the petition is denied.
    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30162(d); delegations of authority at CFR 1.50
and 501.8.

Joseph Kolly,
Acting, Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2021-16926 Filed 8-6-21; 8:45 am]
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