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)
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EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. 8-72)
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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.
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