UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER WASHINGTON, D.C, 20460 POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY EPA-335 A ^^Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1976 EPA PROPOSES NEW APPROACH TO WARRANTY ON AUTOMOTIVE EMISSION DEVICES The Environmental Protection Agency today announced it will propose rulemaking that will eliminate much of the con- fusion over automotive production warranties as they relate to emission control systems. The Clean Air Act provides for a warranty on emission control devices on automobiles, but few motorists are aware of that warranty when they pay a repair bill for replacement of emission-related items. EPA is considering two options which would require lists of emission-related items to be included in the owners' manuals. The first option would require a general listing of emission-related devices and systems which could affect emissions when defective. This list would give owners the necessary information to make inquiries about warranty coverage. The second option would require a much shorter list of emission-related components which, if they fail in a specific manner, are presumed to cause emissions to exceed standards. If any of these components failed, they would be covered under tfte Production Warranty. The manufacturer would have to bear the cost of the necessary repairs unless he could show that standards/were/not being exceeded, or that the failure was/ a result of improper use or maintenance. Rice (202) 755-0344 (more) Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material ~. or it chSnga-oLad^ress is needed ,d (indicate, changy, including. EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. 8-72) R-320 ------- bi- section 207(a) of the Clean Air Act requires manufacturers to warrant that a new vehicle or engine (1972 and later model years) be "designed, built and equipped so as to conform at the time of sale with applicable regulations (including emission standards), and free from defects in materials and workmanship which cause' such vehicle ..or .engine ..to fail to conform with applicable regulations for its useful life..." The useful life of a passenger car is defined as five years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. A copy of the warranty is required to be included with all new vehicles. EPA believes'that owners have made little use of the Production Warranty because they do not know which parts are involved. Owners do not know which items on repair receipts are emission-related and may not, therefore, inquire about warranty coverage for those parts. Thus, owners may be paying for repairs which are actually covered by the warranty. Copies of the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking may be obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency, Warranty Project (EN-340), 401 M Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20460. The Advance Notice is appearing in today's Federal Register. # # # R-320 ------- |