Ford Finds Windshields of Some 2010 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKT Don't Fully Meet Federal Marking Requirements
June 4, 2010

Ford Motor Co. recently discovered that the windshields of approximately 15,000 2010 Ford Taurus vehicles and 3,500 2010 Lincoln MKTs do not fully meet the marking requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 205 S6.2. Though the company reports that the windshields, manufactured by Zeledyne, meet all other FMVSS 205 requirements, the "AS 1" marking "was inadvertently omitted" from the lower corner of the windshield, where the trademark is located, according to Ford. However, company officials say the windshields are marked with the "AS 1" designation on both sides of the upper portion of the windshield.

Paragraph S6.2 of FMVSS No. 205 reads as follows:

S6.2 A prime glazing manufacturer certifies its glazing by adding to the marks required by section 7 of ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996, in letters and numerals of the same size, the symbol ``DOT'' and a manufacturer's code mark that NHTSA assigns to the manufacturer.

Taurus models involved were manufactured at the company's Chicago assembly plant between June 1, 2009, and October 5, 2009, and the MKT vehicless were manufactured at the company's Oakville, Ontario, plant between June 29, 2009, and October 8, 2009. The windshields are said to have been made at Zeledyne's facility in Nashville, Tenn.

Ford discovered the issue in November of 2009 and notified the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) at that time, but is petitioning the federal agency to be exempted from the usual notification and remedy requirements, on the basis that "the condition does not present a risk to motor vehicle safety because the windshield fully meets the performance and physical requirements of FMVSS 205."

"Additionally, repair service will be unaffected because the selection of replacement windshields is typically done utilizing a distributor, a catalog or NAGS number," wrote Ford auto safety office director James P. Vondale in a letter to NHTSA dated November 12. "Furthermore, repairers will be able to determine the appropriate glazing because the upper portions of the windshield are properly labeled with the 'AS 1' designation, the glazing is clearly marked as 'Laminated,' and all other markings required by FMVSS 205 are properly labeled."

Zeledyne officials declined to comment. A public comment period as to whether NHTSA should permit the exemption is now open, and the item appeared in the Federal Register today. (CLICK HERE for more information from the Federal Register.) Comments are due by the end of the day on July 6, 2010.

Those who wish to comment must reference Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0060; Notice 1, and can submit comments by the following methods:

• by mail addressed to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590;
• by hand delivery to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (except on Federal holidays);
• by following the online submission instructions at http://www.regulations.gov; and
• by fax to 202/493-2251.

Comments must be written in English and must not exceed 15 pages in length, according to the Federal Register.

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