NHTSA OKs GM, Maserati petitions

WASHINGTON (Jan. 19, 2016) — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has granted petitions by General Motors L.L.C. and Maserati North America Inc. for findings of inconsequential noncompliance for tire-related irregularities.

GM's petition involved mismarked spare tires on 51,704 Cadillac SRX multipurpose passenger vehicles, model years 2010-2014.

The rims on the spares were marked with a T to indicate that the source of the rims' published nominal dimensions was the Tire and Rim Association, rather than the correct E to indicate that the source was actually the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation, GM told NHTSA.

Maserati's petition involved the tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) on 8,789 Maserati Quattroporte, Granturismo and Granturismo vehicles, model years 2011-2013.

If the TPMS on the vehicles detect a missing sensor when the ignition is switched on, the malfunction indicator illuminates as required by NHTSA's TPMS standard, Maserati said.

In subsequent ignition cycles, however, if the sensor has not been replaced, the indicator will illuminate only until the vehicle starts to move. Federal law requires the indicator to stay lit until the sensor is replaced, according to Maserati.

The auto company noted that NHTSA had previously granted findings of inconsequential noncompliance for similar infractions, such as in the case of certain Audi vehicles, NHTSA said.

The agency published the findings of inconsequential noncompliance in the Jan. 13 Federal Register. The notices can be found by clicking here or here.