Tread Act mandates reporting of certain
specific information regarding customer contact to NHTSA. To comply
virtually all customer and dealer contacts must be logged. Beginning
April 1, 2003, Manufacturers must report, production information, with
the additional requirement that historical production information for
the last three years be provided with the initial report. The area's
that must be reported include:
Field reports
Manufacturers must report the total number of field
reports they receive from the manufacturer’s employees,
representatives, and dealers, and from fleets, that are related to
problems with certain specified components and systems that occurred in
the US. In addition, they must provide copies of certain field reports
received from their employees, representatives, and fleets, but are not
required to provide copies of reports received from dealers.
Production
Manufacturers must report the total number of
vehicles, and tires, by make, model, and model year, during the
reporting period and the prior nine model years. They must separately
report the numbers identified above for each model and model year, as
the rule defines it.
Published documents
All manufacturers must provide copies of all
documents sent or made available to more than one dealer, distributor,
owner, purchaser, lessor or lessee, in the US concerning customer
satisfaction campaigns, customer advisories, recalls, or other
activities involving the repair or replacement of vehicles or equipment.
Deaths
Manufacturers must report certain specified
information about each incident involving a death that occurred in the
US that is identified in a claim against and received by the
manufacturer. They must also report information about incidents
involving a death that is identified in a notice received by the
manufacturer alleging or proving that the death was caused by a
possible defect in the manufacturer's product. Finally, they must
report on each death occurring in foreign countries that is identified
in a claim against the manufacturer involving the manufacturer's
product, or one that is identical or substantially similar to a product
that manufacturer has offered for sale in the US.
Injuries
Manufacturers must report certain specified
information about each incident involving an injury that occurred in
the US that is identified in a claim against and received by the
manufacturer, or that is identified in a notice received by the
manufacturer which alleges or proves that injury was caused by a
possible defect in the manufacturer's product.
Property damage
Manufacturers must report the number of claims for
property damage that occurred in the US that are related to alleged
problems with certain specified components and systems, regardless of
the amount of such claims.
Consumer complaints
Manufacturers must report the number of consumer
complaints they receive that are related to problems with certain
specified components and systems that occurred in the US.
Warranty claims information
Manufacturers must report the number of warranty
claims, including extended warranty and good will, they receive that
are related to problems with certain systems that occurred in the US.
Detailed information on what must be reported:
FIELD REPORTS
Manufacturers must report the of number field
reports received during the reporting quarter for each make/model/model
year combination offered for sale in United States. Unlike fatalities
and injuries, is not necessary to include any warranty claim and
warranty adjustment that does not involved one of the identified system
and components, roll-over or fire.
Report must provide:
1. The make/model/model year combination.
2. The system or component that allegedly contributed to the incident.
a. System and components must be coded by numeric codes specified in the rule.
FIELD REPORTS/HARD COPIES
Manufacturers must provide a hard copy of each field report (other than a dealer field report) that:
1. Is generated in the United States.
2. Is received by the manufacturer during the
reporting quarter and is involved in one or more of the system and
components identified in numeric codes specified in the rule for
reporting fatalities (including roll-over and fire). If field report
does not involve one of the identified system and components, roll-over
or fire, it is not reportable.
If the field report does not involve one identified system and components, roll-over or fire, is not reportable.
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Expansion of the rule requiring monthly submission
of a copy of any written communications sent to more than one
manufacturer, dealer, distributor, lessee, lessor or purchaser related
to a possible defect, whether or not safety-related. Expanded
requirement now relates to "safety" communications also, whether
related to the defect or not. May be deferred until May 7, 2003,
(covering communications sent out during April 2003.) This requirement
covers external communications sent within the United States.
FATALITY REPORT
Manufacturer must report:
1. A claim of a fatality in the United States
received by the manufacturer. A claim is a written request for relief,
monetary or otherwise, even if it doesn't blame your product. Not a
phone call, not a discussion at a party, not something you read on the
Internet.
2. A notice of a fatality the United States received
by the manufacturer, if the notice alleges that the fatality was caused
by a possible defect in the manufacturer's vehicle or equipment.
3. A claim of a fatality in a foreign country
received by the manufacturer concerning a vehicle or item of equipment
that is "substantially similar" to the vehicle or item of equipment
offered for sale by that manufacturer in the United States.
Report must provide:
1. The make, model, model year and VIN on the involved vehicle.
2. The incident date.
3. The number of deaths in the incident.
4. The number of injuries (if any appeared in the U.S.).
5. The state or foreign country where the incident occurred.
6. The system or component that allegedly contributed to the incident.
a. System and components must be coded by numeric codes specified in the rule.
b. If a specific system or component was identified
as contributing to the fatality, and is not one of the system and
components covered by the codes in the rule, the report must code it as
"other".
c. If no specific system or component was identified as contributing to the fatality, the report must code it as "none".
d. If multiple systems/components are alleged to
have been involved, the manufacturer must report each of them, up to a
maximum of five.
7. Whether the incident involved fire and/or roll-over.
INJURY REPORT
A report on each injury, no matter how minor, during the reporting period identified in any of the following ways:
1. A claim of an injury in the United States received by the manufacturer.
2. A notice of an injury in the United States
received by the manufacturer, if the notice alleges that the injury was
caused by possible defect in the manufacturer's vehicle or equipment.
3. There's no requirement report on injuries
occurring in foreign countries. Only difference between fatalities and
injury reporting.
Each injury report must provide:
1. The make, model, model year and VIN of the involved vehicle.
2. The incident date.
3. The number of injuries.
4. The state where the incident occurred.
5. Each system or component that allegedly contributed to the incident.
a. System and components must be coded by numeric codes specified in the rule.
b. If a specific system or component was identified
as contributing to the injury, and is not one of the system and
components covered by the codes in the rule, the report must code it as
"other".
c. If no specific system or component was identified as contributing to the injury, the report must code it as "none".
d. If multiple systems and components are alleged
to have been involved, the manufacturer must report each of them, up to
a maximum of five.
6. Whether the incident involved fire or roll-over.
If an injury turns into a fatality, you do not have
to report it again after you report it as an injury. You must inform
them of a death, probably in a letter. Do not have to report injuries
caused by asbestos exposure or injuries caused by exposure to volatile
or organic compounds. Manufacturing process not covered. Starts from
the time it leaves the factory as a completed vehicle.
Nonphysical injuries are being considered as non-reportable, but as of now are reportable. (Consortium or companionship)
CONSUMER COMPLAINTS
Manufacturers must report the number of consumer
complaints received by the area of the company charged with dealing
with those complaints during the reporting quarter for each
make/model/model year combination offered for sale in the United States.
These complaints must be coded by the same
numeric codes specified in the role for use in reporting fatalities.
Unlike fatalities and injuries, is not necessary to include any
warranty claim and warranty adjustment that does not involve one of the
identified system and components, roll-over or fire.
Report must provide:
1. The make/model/model year combination.
2. The system or component that allegedly contributed to the incident up to a maximum of five. Choose the most serious five.
a. System and components must be coded by numeric codes specified in the rule.
WARRANTY CLAIMS
Manufacturers must report the number of warranty
declines and warranty adjustments paid during the reporting quarter for
each make/model/model year combination of vehicle offered for sale in
the United States. Unlike fatalities and injuries, is not necessary to
include any warranty claim and warranty adjustment that does not
involve one of the identified system and components, roll-over or fire.
Report must provide:
1. The make/model/model year combination.
2. The system or component that allegedly contributed to the incident.
a. System and components must be coded by numeric codes specified in the rule.
PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIMS
Manufacturers must report the number of property
damage claims (a claim is a written request for relief) received during
the reporting quarter for each make/model/model year combination of
vehicles offered for sale in the United States. Unlike fatalities and
injuries, is not necessary to include any claims that do not involve
one of the identified system and components, roll-over or fire. Damage
to the vehicle itself that is normally covered under warranty is not
reportable i.e. an exhaust leak has damaged clothes (reportable) and
mattress (non-reportable). The mattress would be reported under
warranty claims.
Report must provide:
1. The make/model/model year combination.
2. The system or component that allegedly contributed to the incident.
a. System and components must be coded by numeric codes specified in the rule.
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