 
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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