[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6250-6254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2723]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6586; Notice 01]
RIN 2127-AH76


Preliminary Theft Data; Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA),Transportation.

ACTION: Publication of preliminary theft data; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document requests comments on data about passenger motor 
vehicle thefts that occurred in calendar year (CY) 1998, including 
theft rates for existing passenger motor vehicle lines manufactured in 
model year (MY) 1998. The theft data preliminarily indicate that the 
vehicle theft rate for CY/MY 1998 vehicles (2.53 thefts per thousand 
vehicles) decreased by 17.05 percent from the theft rate for CY/MY 1997 
vehicles (3.05 thefts per thousand vehicles).
    Publication of these data fulfills NHTSA's statutory obligation to 
periodically obtain accurate and timely theft data, and publish the 
information for review and comment.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number cited in the heading of this document and be submitted, 
preferably with two copies to: U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. 
Docket hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rosalind Proctor, Office of 
Planning and Consumer Programs, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Proctor's telephone number is (202) 366-0846. 
Her fax number is (202) 493-2290.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA administers a program for reducing 
motor vehicle theft. The central feature of this program is the Federal 
Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard, 49 CFR Part 541. The standard 
specifies performance requirements for inscribing or affixing vehicle 
identification numbers (VINs) onto certain major original equipment and 
replacement parts of high-theft lines of passenger motor vehicles.
    The agency is required by 49 U.S.C. 33104(b)(4) to periodically 
obtain, from the most reliable source, accurate and timely theft data, 
and publish the data for review and comment. To fulfill the 
Sec. 33104(b)(4) mandate, this document reports the preliminary theft 
data for CY 1998, the most recent calendar year for which data are 
available.
    In calculating the 1998 theft rates, NHTSA followed the same 
procedures it used in calculating the MY 1997 theft rates. (For 1997 
theft data calculations, see 64 FR 41183, July 29, 1999). As in all 
previous reports, NHTSA's data were based on information provided to 
the agency by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) of the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation. The NCIC is a governmental system that 
receives vehicle theft information from nearly 23,000 criminal justice 
agencies and other law enforcement authorities throughout the United 
States. The NCIC data also include reported thefts of self-insured and 
uninsured vehicles, not all of which are reported to other data 
sources.
    The 1998 theft rate for each vehicle line was calculated by 
dividing the number of reported thefts of MY 1998 vehicles of that line 
stolen during calendar year 1998, by the total number of vehicles in 
that line manufactured for MY 1998, as reported by manufacturers to the 
Environmental Protection Agency.
    The preliminary 1998 theft data show a decrease in the vehicle 
theft rate when compared to the theft rate experienced in CY/MY 1997. 
The preliminary theft rate for MY 1998 passenger vehicles stolen in 
calendar year 1998 decreased to 2.53 thefts per thousand vehicles 
produced, a decrease of 17.05 percent from the rate of 3.05 thefts per 
thousand vehicles experienced by MY 1997 vehicles in CY 1997. For MY 
1998 vehicles, out of a total of 196 vehicle lines, 41 lines had a 
theft rate higher than 3.5826 per thousand vehicles, the

[[Page 6251]]

established median theft rate for MYs 1990/1991. (See 59 FR 12400, 
March 16, 1994). Of the 41 vehicle lines with a theft rate higher than 
3.5826, 35 are passenger car lines, six are multipurpose passenger 
vehicle lines, and none are light-duty truck lines.
    In Table I, NHTSA has tentatively ranked each of the MY 1998 
vehicle lines in descending order of theft rate. Public comment is 
sought on the accuracy of the data, including the data for the 
production volumes of individual vehicle lines.
    Comments must not exceed 15 pages in length (49 CFR Part 553.21). 
Attachments may be appended to these submissions without regard to the 
15 page limit. This limitation is intended to encourage commenters to 
detail their primary arguments in a concise fashion.
    If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim 
of confidentiality, three copies of the complete submission, including 
purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to 
the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the street address given above, and two 
copies from which the purportedly confidential information has been 
deleted should be submitted to Dockets. A request for confidentiality 
should be accompanied by a cover letter setting forth the information 
specified in the agency's confidential business information regulation. 
49 CFR Part 512.
    All comments received before the close of business on the comment 
closing date indicated above for this document will be considered, and 
will be available for examination in the docket at the above address 
both before and after that date. To the extent possible, comments filed 
after the closing date will also be considered. Comments on this 
document will be available for inspection in the docket. NHTSA will 
continue to file relevant information as it becomes available for 
inspection in the docket after the closing date, and it is recommended 
that interested persons continue to examine the docket for new 
material.
    Those persons desiring to be notified upon receipt of their 
comments in the rules docket should enclose a self-addressed, stamped 
postcard in the envelope with their comments. Upon receiving the 
comments, the docket supervisor will return the postcard by mail.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33101, 33102 and 33104; delegation of 
authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

   Preliminary Report of Theft Rates of 1998 Model Year Passenger Motor Vehicles Stolen in Calendar Year 1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     1998 theft
                                                                                                      rate (per
             Manufacturer                      Make/model (line)         Thefts 1998   Production       1,000
                                                                                      (Mfr's) 1998    vehicles
                                                                                                      produced)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  Mitsubishi.......................  Diamante......................            87         6,584       13.2139
  2  Lamborghini......................  DB132/Diablo..................             1           104        9.6154
  3  Saab.............................  9000..........................            12         1,335        8.9888
  4  Honda............................  Acura Integra.................           314        36,253        8.6614
  5  Mitsubishi.......................  Mirage........................           357        41,904        8.5195
  6  Toyota...........................  Tercel........................            92        11,207        8.2092
  7  Chrysler Corp....................  Dodge Stratus.................           750       107,276        6.9913
  8  Mitsubishi.......................  Montero Sport/Nativa \1\......           318        45,772        6.9475
  9  General Motors...................  Oldsmobile Achieva............           181        26,922        6.7231
 10  General Motors...................  GMC Safari Van................           161        24,451        6.5846
 11  General Motors...................  Buick Skylark.................           122        18,851        6.4718
 12  Hyundai..........................  Sonata........................           101        16,406        6.1563
 13  Suzuki...........................  X-90..........................             3           500        6.0000
 14  Chrysler Corp....................  Plymouth Breeze...............           393        66,612        5.8998
 15  Mitsubishi.......................  Galant........................           172        29,618        5.8073
 16  Chrysler Corp....................  Plymouth Neon.................           499        87,055        5.7320
 17  Chrysler Corp....................  Dodge Neon....................           725       130,154        5.5703
 18  Mitsubishi.......................  Eclipse.......................           307        56,294        5.4535
 19  Nissan...........................  Maxima........................           682       130,862        5.2116
 20  Chrysler Corp....................  Sebring Convertible...........           251        50,812        4.9398
 21  Ford Motor Co....................  Mercury Tracer................           177        35,850        4.9372
 22  Hyundai..........................  Elantra.......................           169        35,792        4.7217
 23  Suzuki...........................  Swift.........................            15         3,265        4.5942
 24  General Motors...................  Pontiac Sunfire...............           409        90,469        4.5209
 25  Mitsubishi.......................  Montero.......................            38         8,506        4.4674
 26  Suzuki...........................  Esteem........................            67        15,222        4.4015
 27  Chrysler Corp....................  Jeep Grand Cherokee...........         1,085       249,097        4.3557
 28  BMW..............................  M3............................            50        11,537        4.3339
 29  Toyota...........................  Supra.........................             3           697        4.3042
 30  Mazda............................  Millenia......................            82        19,908        4.1189
 31  Toyota...........................  Lexus GS......................           124        30,810        4.0247
 32  Toyota...........................  4-Runner......................           489       121,745        4.0166
 33  BMW..............................  7.............................            73        18,179        4.0156
 34  Ford Motor Co....................  Contour.......................           866       217,548        3.9807
 35  Hyundai..........................  Accent........................           123        31,692        3.8811
 36  General Motors...................  Pontiac Grand AM..............           386       101,814        3.7912
 37  Mitsubishi.......................  3000GT........................            18         4,753        3.7871
 38  Nissan...........................  Altima........................           602       159,224        3.7808
 39  Chrysler Corp....................  Eagle Talon...................            16         4,317        3.7063
 40  Audi.............................  Cabriolet.....................             3           829        3.6188
 41  Ford Motor Co....................  Mustang.......................           612       170,587        3.5876
 42  Mercedes Benz....................  140 (CL-Class & SL-Class).....            34         9,593        3.5443

[[Page 6252]]

 
 43  Suzuki...........................  Sidekick......................            65        18,396         3.533
 44  Nissan...........................  Sentra/200SX..................           395       111,821        3.5324
 45  Mazda............................  Protege.......................           201        57,165        3.5161
 46  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Blazer S10/T10......           759       216,854        3.5001
 47  KIA Motors.......................  Sephia........................           156        45,860        3.4017
 48  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Prizm...............           153        45,000        3.4000
 49  General Motors...................  Pontiac Firebird/Formula......           107        32,228        3.3201
 50  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Camaro..............           159        48,562        3.2742
 51  Ford Motor Co....................  Mercury Mystique..............           195        59,826        3.2595
 52  Isuzu............................  Rodeo.........................           223        68,558        3.2527
 53  Chrysler Corp....................  Cirrus........................           121        37,295        3.2444
 54  Porsche..........................  911...........................             8         2,474        3.2336
 55  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Metro...............           104        32,499        3.2001
 56  Chrysler Corp....................  Dodge Avenger.................            85        26,634        3.1914
 57  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Cavalier............           844       270,401        3.1213
 58  Ford Motor Co....................  Mercury Sable.................           282        91,297        3.0888
 59  Ford Motor Co....................  Lincoln Town Car..............           253        82,965        3.0495
 60  Toyota...........................  Corolla.......................           690       228,197        3.0237
 61  Mercedes Benz....................  129 (SL-Class)................            25         8,315        3.0066
 62  Ford Motor Co....................  Lincoln Mark VIII.............            43        14,357        2.9951
 63  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Corvette............            86        28,732        2.9932
 64  Chrysler Corp....................  Jeep Cherokee.................           439       148,207        2.9621
 65  Nissan...........................  Infiniti I30..................            92        31,060        2.9620
 66  Ford Motor Co....................  Escort........................           995       336,729        2.9549
 67  General Motors...................  Cadillac Deville..............           305       104,209        2.9268
 68  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Malibu..............           669       231,143        2.8943
 69  General Motors...................  GMC Jimmy S-15................           204        71,583        2.8498
 70  Ford Motor Co....................  Taurus........................           943       332,243        2.8383
 71  Toyota...........................  Tacoma Pickup Truck...........           484       170,992        2.8305
 72  Honda............................  Prelude.......................            45        15,973        2.8173
 73  Jaguar...........................  XJ8...........................            32        11,374        2.8134
 74  Mazda............................  626...........................           246        87,448        2.8131
 75  General Motors...................  Oldsmobile Bravada............            77        27,790        2.7708
 76  Chrysler Corp....................  Sebring Coupe.................            93        35,035        2.6545
 77  Hyundai..........................  Tiburon.......................            17         6,444        2.6381
 78  Chrysler Corp....................  Dodge Intrepid................           182        70,283        2.5895
 79  Nissan...........................  Infiniti QX4..................            44        17,109        2.5717
 80  Honda............................  Passport......................            63        25,435        2.4769
 81  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Lumina/Monte Carlo..           616       255,423        2.4117
 82  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Tracker.............            50        20,999        2.3811
 83  Nissan...........................  Pathfinder....................           186        81,428        2.2842
 84  Honda............................  Civic.........................           838       368,876        2.2718
 85  General Motors...................  Pontiac Bonneville............           146        65,539        2.2277
 86  Volkswagen.......................  Golf/GTI......................            40        17,971        2.2258
 87  Mercedes Benz....................  208 (CLK-Class)...............            11         5,103        2.1556
 88  Chrysler Corp....................  Jeep WRangler.................           185        90,341        2.0478
 89  BMW..............................  3.............................            76        38,098        1.9949
 90  Volkswagen.......................  Jetta.........................           149        74,701        1.9946
 91  Chrysler Corp....................  Stratus \2\...................             1           505        1.9802
 92  BMW..............................  5.............................            70        35,631        1.9646
 93  Ford Motor Co....................  F-150 Pickup Truck............           805       409,940        1.9637
 94  Jaguar...........................  XJR...........................             3         1,534        1.9557
 95  Toyota...........................  Camry.........................           790       404,850        1.9513
 96  Ford Motor Co....................  Windstar Van..................           646       333,746        1.9356
 97  Chrysler Corp....................  Neon \2\......................             1           518        1.9305
 98  Kia Motors.......................  Sportage......................            51        26,455        1.9278
 99  Volvo............................  S70/V70.......................           167        87,069        1.9180
100  Chrysler Corp....................  Plymouth Voyager/Grand........           299       156,440        1.9113
101  Toyota...........................  Lexus ES......................            96        50,585        1.8978
102  Chrysler Corp....................  Dodge Caravan/Grand...........           538       288,662        1.8638
103  General Motors...................  Cadillac Eldorado.............            33        17,950        1.8384
104  General Motors...................  Oldsmobile Intrigue...........           180        99,035        1.8175
105  Honda............................  Acura TL......................            33        18,337        1.7996
106  Toyota...........................  Lexus SC......................             5         2,801        1.7851
107  Isuzu............................  Trooper.......................            33        18,657        1.7688
108  Isuzu............................  Oasis Van.....................             3         1,702        1.7626
109  Ford Motor Co....................  Mercury Grand Marquis.........           154        87,762        1.7547

[[Page 6253]]

 
110  Ford Motor Co....................  Explorer......................           773       446,467        1.7314
111  General Motors...................  Cadillac Seville..............            47        27,650        1.6998
112  Chrysler Corp....................  Dodge Dakota Pickup Truck.....           245       144,215        1.6989
113  Mercedes Benz....................  210 (E-Class).................            72        42,466        1.6955
114  Volvo............................  C70...........................             4         2,394        1.6708
115  Toyota...........................  T100 Pickup Truck.............            18        10,783        1.6693
116  General Motors...................  Cadillac Catera...............            46        27,571        1.6684
117  Mazda............................  MPV...........................            25        15,037        1.6626
118  General Motors...................  Oldsmobile Cutlass............            86        52,679        1.6325
119  General Motors...................  Oldsmobile Aurora.............            39        23,955        1.6281
120  Isuzu............................  Hombre Pickup Truck...........            32        20,289        1.5772
121  General Motors...................  Buick Century.................           198       128,899        1.5361
122  Ford Motor Co....................  Ranger Pickup Truck...........           451       297,551        1.5157
123  Ford Motor Co....................  Mercury Mountaineer...........            77        51,022        1.5092
124  General Motors...................  Pontiac Grand Prix............           188       127,838        1.4706
125  Mazda............................  B Series Pickup Truck.........            70        48,270        1.4502
126  Toyota...........................  RAV4..........................            93        64,298        1.4464
127  General Motors...................  Buick Regal...................           101        70,556        1.4315
128  Honda............................  Acura CL......................            36        25,471        1.4134
129  General Motors...................  Chevrolet S-10 Pickup Truck...           348       248,330        1.4014
130  Isuzu............................  Amigo.........................            13         9,374        1.3868
131  Jaguar...........................  XK8...........................             8         5,792        1.3812
132  Porsche..........................  Boxster Convertible...........            10         7,253        1.3787
133  Mercedes Benz....................  202 (C-Class).................            45        34,100        1.3196
134  General Motors...................  GMC Sonoma Pickup Truck.......            77        59,359        1.2972
135  General Motors...................  Buick Park Avenue.............            80        62,015        1.2900
136  General Motors...................  Pontiac Trans Sport Van.......            70        54,839        1.2765
137  Nissan...........................  Frontier Pickup Truck.........           111        89,266        1.2435
138  General Motors...................  Saturn SC.....................            42        34,035        1.2340
139  General Motors...................  Buick Riviera.................            13        10,601        1.2263
140  Volkswagen.......................  Cabrio........................            15        12,252        1.2243
141  Honda............................  Accord........................           490       403,085        1.2156
142  BMW..............................  Z3............................            20        16,482        1.2134
143  Toyota...........................  Lexus LS......................            27        22,840        1.1821
144  Subaru...........................  Impreza.......................            23        19,550        1.1765
145  Chrysler Corp....................  Concorde......................            52        46,543        1.1172
146  Mercedes Benz....................  163 (ML-Class)................            44        39,493        1.1141
147  Honda............................  Acura SLX.....................             2         1,800        1.1111
148  Mercedes Benz....................  170 (SLK-Class)...............            14        12,658        1.1060
149  General Motors...................  Oldsmobile 88/Regency.........            69        64,116        1.0762
150  Toyota...........................  Avalon........................            80        76,189        1.0500
151  Subaru...........................  Legacy........................            95        90,721        1.0472
152  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Venture Van.........            93        93,027        0.9997
153  General Motors...................  Saturn SL.....................           146       147,604        0.9891
154  Honda............................  Acura RL......................            14        14,182        0.9872
155  Nissan...........................  Quest.........................            26        26,388        0.9853
156  Ford Motor Co....................  Lincoln Continental...........            38        38,671        0.9826
157  Chrysler Corp....................  Dodge Viper...................             1         1,067        0.9372
158  Volvo............................  S90/V90.......................            12        12,825        0.9357
159  Volkswagen.......................  Passat........................            24        25,869        0.9278
160  Nissan...........................  240SX.........................             2         2,178        0.9183
161  Nissan...........................  Infiniti Q45..................             7         7,795        0.8980
162  Toyota...........................  Celica........................             3         3,343        0.8974
163  Audi.............................  A4............................            21        24,225        0.8669
164  Chrysler Corp....................  Town and Country MPV..........            52        62,976        0.8257
165  General Motors...................  Buick Lesabre.................           111       143,354        0.7743
166  Honda............................  CR-V..........................            74        96,828        0.7642
167  Jaguar...........................  Vanden Plas...................             4         5,284        0.7570
168  Ford Motor Co....................  Mercury Villager MPV..........            28        37,471        0.7472
169  Toyota...........................  Sienna Van....................            48        73,777        0.6506
170  Subaru...........................  Forester......................            28        43,490        0.6438
171  Audi.............................  A6............................            10        16,938        0.5904
172  Volkswagen.......................  New Beetle....................            22        38,999        0.5641
173  Honda............................  Odyssey Van...................             8        14,633        0.5467
174  Ford Motor Co....................  Crown Victoria................            43        85,305        0.5041
175  General Motors...................  Oldsmobile Silhouette Van.....            17        35,827        0.4745
176  General Motors...................  Saturn SW.....................             8        18,322        0.4366

[[Page 6254]]

 
177  Saab.............................  900...........................             5        12,003        0.4166
178  General Motors...................  Chevrolet Astro Van...........            34        83,317        0.4081
179  Aston Martin.....................  DB7...........................             0           213        0.0000
180  Audi.............................  A8............................             0         1,978        0.0000
181  Chrysler Corp....................  Intrepid \2\..................             0           171        0.0000
182  Fiat.............................  Ferrari.......................           456            25        0.0000
183  Fiat.............................  Ferrari 550...................             0           149        0.0000
184  Fiat.............................  Ferrari F355..................             0           511        0.0000
185  General Motors...................  Buick Funeral Coach...........             0         1,061        0.0000
186  General Motors...................  Cadillac Limousine............             0         1,134        0.0000
187  Honda............................  Acura NSX.....................             0           254        0.0000
188  Lotus............................  Esprit........................             0            54        0.0000
189  Rolls-Royce......................  Bentley Azure.................             0            99        0.0000
190  Rolls-Royce......................  Bentley Brooklands............             0            39        0.0000
191  Rolls-Royce......................  Bentley Continental R.........             0            24        0.0000
192  Rolls-Royce......................  Bentley Continental T.........             0            20        0.0000
193  Rolls-Royce......................  Bentley Turbo R/RT............             0            25        0.0000
194  Rolls-Royce......................  Silver Spur Park Ward.........             0            12        0.0000
195  Rolls-Royce......................  Silver Spur...................             0            30        0.0000
196  Vector Auto......................  Avtech SC/M12.................             0             5        0.0000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Nativa is the name applied to Montero Sport vehicles that are manufactured for sale only in Puerto Rico.
\2\ These vehicles were manufactured for sale only in U.S. territories under the Chrysler name plate.


    Issued on: February 2, 2000.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Acting Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 00-2723 Filed 2-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P