Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Consumer Complaint Information

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comment on our intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate a previously approved information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved information collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on information gathered through consumer complaints.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 193 (Wednesday, October 7, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64217-64219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20495]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2026-2212]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for 
Comment; Consumer Complaint Information

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on approval of the 
reinstatement of a previously approved information collection.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
invites public comment on our intent to request approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate a previously 
approved information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect 
certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. 
Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public 
comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions 
and reinstatement of previously approved information

[[Page 64218]]

collections. This document describes a collection of information for 
which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on information gathered 
through consumer complaints.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 7, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. NHTSA-2022-
0016 through one of the following methods:
    <bullet> Electronic Submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except on Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there 
to help you, please call (202) 366-9322 before coming.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any 
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading 
below.
    Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/privacy">https://www.transportation.gov/privacy</a>.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets via the internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access 
to background documents, contact Randy Reid, Office of Defects 
Investigation (NEF-100), 202-366-4383, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, W48-311, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a6d4c7c8c2df88d4c3cfc2e6c2c9d288c1c9d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3143505f55481f4354585571555e451f565e47">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please 
identify the relevant information collection by referring to its OMB 
Control Number (2127-0008).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (PRA), before an agency submits a proposed 
collection of information to OMB for approval, it must first publish a 
document in the Federal Register providing a 60-day comment period and 
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies 
concerning each proposed collection of information. The OMB has 
promulgated regulations describing what must be included in such a 
document. Under OMB's regulation (at 5 CFR 1320.8(d)), an agency must 
ask for public comment on the following: (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) how to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) how to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic 
submission of responses. In compliance with these requirements, NHTSA 
asks for public comments on the following proposed collection of 
information for which the agency is seeking approval from OMB.
    Title: Consumer Complaint Information.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0008.
    Type of Request: Approval for reinstatement of a previously 
approved information collection.
    Type of Review Requested: Regular.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from the approval 
date.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: Chapter 301 of Title 49 
of the United States Code authorizes the Secretary of Transportation 
(NHTSA by delegation) to require manufacturers of motor vehicles and 
motor vehicle equipment to conduct owner notification and remedy, i.e., 
a recall campaign, when it has been determined that a safety defect 
exists in the performance, construction, components, or materials in 
motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. Pursuant to Title 49 of the 
United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 573 and 577, 
manufacturers are required to notify NHTSA, as well as motor vehicle 
and motor vehicle equipment owners, dealers, and distributors, that a 
determination has been made to remedy a defect through the issuance of 
a safety recall. Manufacturers often initiate safety recalls 
voluntarily, while other recalls are influenced by NHTSA investigations 
or ordered by NHTSA via a court ruling. A manufacturer of each such 
motor vehicle or item of replacement equipment presented for remedy 
pursuant to such notification is required to remedy the safety defect 
at no charge to the owner. The manufacturer shall cause the vehicle to 
be remedied by any of the following means: (1) by repairing such 
vehicle or equipment; (2) by replacing such motor vehicle or equipment 
with an identical or similar product; or (3) by refunding the purchase 
price less depreciation.
    In order to help NHTSA identify safety-related defects, the agency 
solicits information from vehicle owners. This information is used to 
identify and evaluate potential safety-related defects and to provide 
the necessary evidence of their existence. NHTSA also uses information 
to monitor the adequacy of a manufacturer's recall efforts. Consumers 
of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment voluntarily submit 
complaints through NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline, NHTSA's website 
(<a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov">www.nhtsa.gov</a>), or through correspondence.

Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information

    NHTSA uses consumer input to help identify potential safety-related 
defects that could lead to a safety recall or recall inadequacies. The 
complaints disclose consumers' allegations of a safety defect that they 
experienced with their vehicle or vehicle equipment, including defects 
that resulted in injuries, crashes, property damage, or death. All 
complaints are converted to a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) format 
and reviewed by NHTSA investigation/engineer staff. An NHTSA 
investigator may respond to a consumer who submits a complaint if more 
information is required. NHTSA staff review complaints/VOQs and 
determine whether further agency action is warranted. The agency has 
used this information to develop technical evidence to prove to 
manufacturers and courts that safety-related defects exist and require 
remedy. The information collection provides valuable insights that help 
NHTSA identify unreasonable safety risks in specific make, models, and 
model years of vehicles and equipment and determine when to open an 
investigation or initiate a recall. In this way, information collection 
helps reduce crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities on our Nation's 
highways.

[[Page 64219]]

    Affected Public: Consumers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle 
equipment.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 63,998.
    There are an average of 67,366 complaints submitted per year 
(average of 184 complaints submitted each day). Some individuals submit 
multiple complaints to NHTSA. To estimate the total number of unique 
respondents per year, NHTSA estimates that the number of unique 
respondents is 95 percent of the number of unique complaints. 
Therefore, NHTSA estimates that there will be approximately 63,998 
respondents each year (67,366 x .95).
    Frequency: On occasion.
    The submission of complaints is triggered by the occurrence of a 
problem with a consumer's vehicle.
    Number of Responses: 67,366.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,227 hours.
    Respondents have averaged 67,366 consumer complaints per year to 
NHTSA between January 2022 and December 2025. NHTSA anticipates that a 
respondent can complete a VOQ in approximately 10 minutes. The consumer 
is asked to provide his/her name, complete mailing address, product 
information, failed component information, and incident information, 
copies of supporting documentation, and his/her signature. NHTSA 
estimates the total annual burden on respondents to be 11,227 hours 
(67,366 respondents x 10 minutes per VOQ = 11,227 annual hourly 
burden). To calculate the opportunity cost to respondents associated 
with the collection, NHTSA used the national average hourly earnings of 
all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, which the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics lists at $36.12.\1\ Therefore, the opportunity cost for the 
annual burden hours associated with respondents submitting complaints 
is estimated to be $405,519 (11,227 hours x $36.12 per hour = $405,519 
annual opportunity cost burden).
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    \1\ See Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of all 
employees on private nonfarm payrolls, April 2025 available at 
<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t19.htm">https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t19.htm</a> (accessed May 21, 
2026).

                                      Table 1--Annual Hour Burden Estimates
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 Annual number of    Estimated time
   respondents/       per response      Average hourly    Opportunity cost    Total annual       Total annual
    responses          (minutes)       opportunity cost    per submission     burden hours     opportunity costs
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         67,366                 10               $36.12             $6.02            11,227            $405,519
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0.
    Participation in this collection is voluntary, and there are no 
costs to respondents beyond the time spent submitting a complaint.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Department's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. The agency will 
summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's 
clearance of this information collection.
    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29.

Eileen Sullivan,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2026-20495 Filed 10-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P


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