Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

U.S. regulations for vehicle safety

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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Citation
Territorial extent
Considered by
Enacted by	National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Passed
Enacted	1966
Considered by
Enacted by

The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are a set of regulations established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States to ensure the safety of motor vehicles. These standards specify design, construction, performance, and durability requirements for motor vehicles and regulated vehicle components.

History

The FMVSS were first established in 1966 under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The goal was to reduce traffic accidents and the resulting deaths and injuries by establishing minimum safety performance requirements for motor vehicles.

Structure

The FMVSS are divided into several categories, each addressing different aspects of vehicle safety. These include:

• FMVSS 101: Controls and displays
• FMVSS 102: Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect
• FMVSS 103: Windshield defrosting and defogging systems
• FMVSS 104: Windshield wiping and washing systems
• FMVSS 105: Hydraulic and electric brake systems
• FMVSS 106: Brake hoses
• FMVSS 108: Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment
• FMVSS 109: New pneumatic tires
• FMVSS 110: Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds) or less
• FMVSS 111: Rearview mirrors
• FMVSS 112: Headlamp concealment devices
• FMVSS 113: Hood latch system
• FMVSS 114: Theft protection and rollaway prevention
• FMVSS 115: Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• FMVSS 116: Motor vehicle brake fluids
• FMVSS 117: Retreaded pneumatic tires
• FMVSS 118: Power-operated window, partition, and roof panel systems
• FMVSS 119: New pneumatic tires for vehicles other than passenger cars
• FMVSS 120: Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars
• FMVSS 121: Air brake systems
• FMVSS 122: Motorcycle brake systems
• FMVSS 123: Motorcycle controls and displays
• FMVSS 124: Accelerator control systems
• FMVSS 125: Warning devices
• FMVSS 126: Electronic stability control systems
• FMVSS 127: [Reserved]
• FMVSS 128: [Reserved]
• FMVSS 129: New non-pneumatic tires for passenger cars
• FMVSS 131: School bus pedestrian safety devices
• FMVSS 135: Light vehicle brake systems
• FMVSS 138: Tire pressure monitoring systems
• FMVSS 139: New pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles
• FMVSS 201: Occupant protection in interior impact
• FMVSS 202: Head restraints
• FMVSS 203: Impact protection for the driver from the steering control system
• FMVSS 204: Steering control rearward displacement
• FMVSS 205: Glazing materials
• FMVSS 206: Door locks and door retention components
• FMVSS 207: Seating systems
• FMVSS 208: Occupant crash protection
• FMVSS 209: Seat belt assemblies
• FMVSS 210: Seat belt assembly anchorages
• FMVSS 211: Wheel nuts, wheel discs, and hub caps
• FMVSS 212: Windshield mounting
• FMVSS 213: Child restraint systems
• FMVSS 214: Side impact protection
• FMVSS 216: Roof crush resistance
• FMVSS 217: Bus emergency exits and window retention and release
• FMVSS 218: Motorcycle helmets
• FMVSS 219: Windshield zone intrusion
• FMVSS 220: School bus rollover protection
• FMVSS 221: School bus body joint strength
• FMVSS 222: School bus passenger seating and crash protection
• FMVSS 223: Rear impact guards
• FMVSS 224: Rear impact protection
• FMVSS 225: Child restraint anchorage systems
• FMVSS 226: Ejection mitigation
• FMVSS 301: Fuel system integrity
• FMVSS 302: Flammability of interior materials
• FMVSS 303: Fuel system integrity of compressed natural gas vehicles
• FMVSS 304: Compressed natural gas fuel container integrity
• FMVSS 305: Electric-powered vehicles: electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection
• FMVSS 401: Interior trunk release
• FMVSS 403: Platform lift systems for motor vehicles
• FMVSS 404: Platform lift installations in motor vehicles

Implementation

Manufacturers must certify that their vehicles comply with all applicable FMVSS before they can be sold in the United States. The NHTSA conducts compliance testing and can issue recalls for vehicles that do not meet the standards.

Related Pages

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act
• Vehicle safety
• Automobile safety
• Crash test
• Vehicle recall