Interpretation ID: aiam1721
258 Soundview Avenue
White Plains
NY 10606;
Dear Ms. Marcus: This is in reply to your letter of November 12, 1974, asking severa questions regarding automobile recall campaigns, particularly regarding owner identification and notification. You ask whether there has been a proposal before the NHTSA to 'tie in' vehicle identification numbers (VIN's) with automobile registrations, and ask whether the Federal government can become a central data bank for such information.; Under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, motor vehicl manufacturers have been required since November 1970 to maintain the names of first purchasers (Pub. L. 81-265, 84 Stat. 262 (15 U.S.C. 1402(f)). In addition, manufacturers have been required under NHTSA Defects Reports regulations (49 CFR S 573.6) to maintain owner lists, including VIN's, of all vehicles subject to notification campaigns. Since August of 1974, manufacturers have all been required to submit to NHTSA the VIN's of all vehicles subject to a campaign that have not been corrected after a campaign is approximately 6 months old. The NHTSA is presently establishing procedures by which these VIN's will be available to the public.; The NHTSA does not contemplate becoming a general clearinghouse fo VIN's. State registration information appears to be the best source for obtaining the addresses of vehicle owners. In fact, recently enacted amendments to the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Pub. L. 93-492, 88 Stat. 1470, October 27, 1974) now specify that manufacturers obtain the names of vehicle owners through State records. Manufacturer's records of first purchasers are to be used to notify when present owners cannot be found through State records or other similar sources. The Motor Vehicle Safety Advisory Council has not discussed these new amendments, but we expect that their issuance will satisfy the Council's concern for locating vehicle owners in cases of defects.; I have enclosed copies of NHTSA regulations dealing with notificatio of defects.; Sincerely, Richard B. Dyson, Acting Chief Counsel