durability and appearance to OEM parts. This program is based on the QS-9000 standard, a production quality standard developed in the automotive industry. Consumers can search an on-line database to determine if a specific part has been reviewed under the program.

At the federal level, NHTSA is responsible for reducing accidents, deaths, and injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes. NHTSA accomplishes this, in part, by setting and enforcing safety performance standards that apply to new motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. Under these standards, manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment must assure that their products comply with all applicable safety standards and certify such compliance. The federal standards are written in terms of minimum safety performance requirements for motor vehicles and equipment. Examples of standards include hydraulic brake system requirements to ensure safe braking performance, vehicle lamp requirements to provide adequate illumination, and hood latch requirements to ensure that hoods remain fastened securely.

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act requires manufacturers to inform NHTSA when a vehicle or equipment is defective or when a vehicle or equipment does not comply with an applicable motor vehicle safety standard. These requirements also apply to persons who import motor vehicles and equipment into the United States. NHTSA does not approve vehicles or equipment. Instead, federal law establishes a “self-certification” process under which each manufacturer is responsible for certifying that its products meet all applicable safety standards. The law also gives NHTSA the authority to investigate possible safety-related defects, to decide whether a defect exists, and to order a manufacturer to notify consumers and to remedy any defect.

NHTSA’s process for identifying a possible defect in motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment begins with screening the complaints it receives in its Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Sources of complaints include a toll-free hotline, a Web page, e-mail, telephone calls, and letters. In an average year, ODI receives between 40,000 and 50,000 complaints. These complaints are entered into a complaint database, which ODI analyzes to identify potential defect trends.

When the screening identifies a potential problem, ODI opens an investigation called a preliminary evaluation. This evaluation involves notifying the manufacturer and the public and gathering information on the potential defect. If this process continues to indicate that a defect trend may exist, the investigation moves to