Final Theft Data; Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4683; Notice 02]

RIN 2127-AH35

Final Theft Data; Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),

Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Publication of final theft data.

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SUMMARY: This document publishes the final data on thefts of model year

(MY) 1997 passenger motor vehicles that occurred in calendar year (CY)

1997. The final 1997 theft data indicate a decrease in the vehicle

theft rate when compared to the theft rate experienced in CY/MY 1996.

The final theft rate for MY 1997 passenger vehicles stolen in calendar

year 1997 (3.05 thefts per thousand vehicles produced) decreased by 7

percent from the theft rate for CY/MY 1996 vehicles (3.28 thefts per

thousand vehicles produced). Publication of these data fulfills NHTSA's

statutory obligation to periodically obtain accurate and timely theft

data and publish the information for review and comment. The data were

calculated for informational purposes only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rosalind Proctor, Office of

Planning and Consumer Programs, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Proctor's telephone number is (202) 366-0846.

Her fax number is (202) 493-2739.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA administers a program for reducing

motor vehicle theft. The central feature of this program is the Federal

Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard, 49 CFR part 541. The standard

specifies performance requirements for inscribing and affixing vehicle

identification numbers (VINs) onto certain major original equipment and

replacement parts of high-theft lines of passenger motor vehicles.

The agency is required by 49 U.S.C. 33104(b)(4) to periodically

obtain, from the most reliable source, accurate and timely theft data

and publish the data for review and comment. To fulfill this statutory

mandate, NHTSA has published theft data annually beginning with MYs

1983/84. Continuing to fulfill the section 33104(b)(4) mandate, this

document reports the final theft data for CY 1997, the most recent

calendar year for which data are available.

In calculating the 1997 theft rates, NHTSA followed the same

procedures it used in calculating the MY 1996 theft rates. (For 1996

theft data calculations, see 63 FR 36478, July 6, 1998.) As in all

previous reports, NHTSA's data were based on information provided to

NHTSA by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) of the Federal

Bureau of Investigation. The NCIC is a government system that receives

vehicle theft information from nearly 23,000 criminal justice agencies

and other law enforcement authorities throughout the United States. The

NCIC data also include reported thefts of self-insured and uninsured

vehicles, not all of which are reported to other data sources.

The 1997 theft rate for each vehicle line was calculated by

dividing the number of reported thefts of MY 1997 vehicles of that line

stolen during calendar year 1997 by the total number of vehicles in

that line manufactured for MY 1997, as reported to the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA).

The final 1997 theft data show a decrease in the vehicle theft rate

when compared to the theft rate experienced in CY/MY 1996. The final

theft rate for MY 1997 passenger vehicles stolen in CY 1997 decreased

to 3.05 thefts per thousand vehicles produced, a decrease

[[Page 41184]]

of 7 percent from the rate of 3.28 thefts per thousand vehicles

experienced by MY 1996 vehicles in CY 1996. For MY 1997 vehicles, out

of a total of 205 vehicle lines, 66 lines had a theft rate higher than

3.5826 per thousand vehicles, the established median theft rate for MYs

1990/1991. (See 59 FR 12400, March 16, 1994.) Of the 66 vehicle lines

with a theft rate higher than 3.5826, 56 are passenger car lines, 9 are

multipurpose passenger vehicle lines, and one is a light-duty truck

line.

On Monday, February 17, 1999, NHTSA published the preliminary theft

rates for CY 1997 passenger motor vehicles in the Federal Register (64

FR 7945). The agency tentatively ranked each of the MY 1997 vehicle

lines in descending order of theft rate. The public was requested to

comment on the accuracy of the data and to provide final production

figures for individual vehicle lines. The agency received written

comments from Mercedes-Benz of North America (Mercedes) and Ford Motor

Company (Ford). The agency used all written comments to make the

necessary adjustments to its data. As a result of the adjustments, some

of the final theft rates and rankings of vehicle lines changed from

those published in the February 1999 notice.

Mercedes informed the agency that the production volume for the

Mercedes 129 vehicle line (SL-Class) was erroneously listed. After

further analysis of the production volumes, it was confirmed with

Mercedes that the production volume listed by the agency was not in

error. Therefore, the production volume and the theft rate for this

line will remain unchanged. Mercedes also informed the agency that the

production volume for the Mercedes 202 (C-Class) was incorrect. After

further review of the final production volumes Mercedes reported to the

EPA, it was confirmed that the production volume submitted by Mercedes

in its initial comment was incorrect. As a result of Mercedes comments

to the docket, the production volume for the 202 (C-Class) has been

corrected and the final theft list has been revised accordingly.

Further reanalysis of the theft rate data revealed that the listing

did not include the Ford F150 Pickup truck or the Mercury Mountaineer.

NHTSA is correcting the final theft data to include the production

volumes for the Ford F150 Pickup truck and the Mountaineer. As a result

of these corrections, the Ford F150, previously not listed, is now

ranked No. 125 with a theft rate of 2.0269. Additionally, the Mercury

Mountaineer, previously not listed, is now ranked No. 108 with a theft

rate of 2.2910.

The following list represents NHTSA's final calculation of theft

rates for all 1997 passenger motor vehicle lines. This list is intended

to inform the public of calendar year 1997 motor vehicle thefts of

model year 1997 vehicles and does not have any affect on the

obligations of regulated parties under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 331, Theft

Prevention.

Theft Rates of Model Year 1997 Passenger Motor Vehicles Stolen in Calendar Year 1997

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1997 theft

rate (per

Manufacturer Make/model (line) Thefts 1997 Production 1,000

(Mfr's) 1997 vehicles

produced)

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1. SUZUKI....................... SWIFT........................ 16 1,724 9.2807

2. HONDA........................ ACURA INTEGRA................ 277 30,046 9.2192

3. CHRYSLER CORP................ PLYMOUTH NEON................ 749 82,880 9.0372

4. MITSUBISHI................... MIRAGE....................... 497 58,218 8.5369

5. CHRYSLER CORP................ DODGE NEON................... 926 115,456 8.0204

6. TOYOTA....................... SUPRA........................ 13 1,629 7.9804

7. HYUNDAI...................... TIBURON...................... 37 4,758 7.7764

8. SUZUKI....................... ESTEEM....................... 55 7,116 7.7291

9. MITSUBISHI................... MONTERO SPORT................ 202 26,592 7.5963

10. BMW......................... 8............................ 6 791 7.5853

11. TOYOTA...................... LEXUS SC..................... 41 5,570 7.3609

12. CHRYSLER CORP............... DODGE STRATUS................ 711 97,227 7.3128

13. NISSAN...................... MAXIMA....................... 949 131,602 7.2111

14. CHRYSLER CORP............... STRATUS \1\.................. 3 429 6.9930

15. MITSUBISHI.................. MONTERO...................... 82 12,249 6.6944

16. CHRYSLER CORP............... INTREPID \1\................. 4 616 6.4935

17. NISSAN...................... STANZA ALTIMA................ 1,157 179,501 6.4456

18. CHRYSLER CORP............... PLYMOUTH BREEZE.............. 423 70,699 5.9831

19. MITSUBISHI.................. 3000GT....................... 38 6,399 5.9384

20. GENERAL MOTORS.............. GEO METRO.................... 374 64,933 5.7598

21. MITSUBISHI.................. ECLIPSE...................... 439 77,556 5.6604

22. MITSUBISHI.................. GALANT....................... 282 50,259 5.6109

23. TOYOTA...................... TERCEL....................... 277 49,527 5.5929

24. CHRYSLER CORP............... NEW YORKER/LHS............... 203 36,622 5.5431

25. FORD MOTOR CO............... MERCURY MYSTIQUE............. 126 23,321 5.4029

26. FORD MOTOR CO............... MERCURY TRACER............... 354 65,867 5.3745

27. SUBARU...................... SVX.......................... 2 384 5.2083

28. MERCEDES BENZ............... 140 (S-CLASS)................ 85 16,348 5.1994

29. CHRYSLER CORP............... DODGE INTREPID............... 775 151,603 5.1120

30. MERCEDES BENZ............... 129 (SL-CLASS)............... 36 7,172 5.0195

31. CHRYSLER CORP............... SEBRING CONVERTIBLE.......... 280 56,004 4.9996

32 HYUNDAI...................... SONATA....................... 90 18,035 4.9903

33 HONDA........................ ACURA SLX.................... 5 1,003 4.9850

34 SUZUKI....................... SIDEKICK..................... 110 22,312 4.9301

35 TOYOTA....................... COROLLA...................... 1,091 222,055 4.9132

36 GENERAL MOTORS............... CHEVROLET CAMARO............. 270 55,037 4.9058

37 FORD MOTOR CO................ MUSTANG...................... 490 100,259 4.8873

38 HYUNDAI...................... ACCENT....................... 174 37,755 4.6087

39 NISSAN....................... PATHFINDER................... 382 83,550 4.5721

[[Page 41185]]

40 GENERAL MOTORS............... GEO PRIZM.................... 285 62,800 4.5382

41 BMW.......................... M3........................... 35 7,976 4.3882

42 CHRYSLER CORP................ CIRRUS....................... 121 28,008 4.3202

43 CHRYSLER CORP................ JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE.......... 1,122 259,946 4.3163

44 GENERAL MOTORS............... PONTIAC FIREBIRD/FORMULA..... 133 30,819 4.3155

45 FORD MOTOR CO................ ASPIRE....................... 161 37,398 4.3050

46 ASTON MARTIN................. DB7.......................... 1 234 4.2735

47 ISUZU........................ HOMBRE PICKUP TRUCK.......... 52 12,177 4.2703

48 HONDA........................ ACCORD....................... 1,604 375,973 4.2663

49 CHRYSLER CORP................ SEBRING COUPE................ 140 33,163 4.2216

50 SUZUKI....................... X-90......................... 9 2,182 4.1247

51 NISSAN....................... 240SX........................ 15 3,655 4.1040

52 FORD MOTOR CO................ CONTOUR...................... 327 79,945 4.0903

53 NISSAN....................... SENTRA/200SX................. 628 154,689 4.0598

54 GENERAL MOTORS............... OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA........... 201 49,879 4.0298

55 CHRYSLER CORP................ NEON\1\...................... 3 751 3.9947

56 TOYOTA....................... 4-RUNNER..................... 512 128,659 3.9795

57 HYUNDAI...................... ELANTRA...................... 178 44,936 3.9612

58 GENERAL MOTORS............... PONTIAC GRAND AM............. 834 211,009 3.9524

59 FORD MOTOR CO................ ESCORT....................... 1,264 323,413 3.9083

60 MAZDA........................ 626/MX-6..................... 320 82,223 3.8919

61 GENERAL MOTORS............... GMC JIMMY S-15............... 284 73,493 3.8643

62 HONDA........................ DEL SOL...................... 25 6,719 3.7208

63 FORD MOTOR CO................ PROBE........................ 62 16,823 3.6854

64 GENERAL MOTORS............... BUICK SKYLARK................ 212 57,716 3.6732

65 CHRYSLER CORP................ EAGLE TALON.................. 36 9,827 3.6634

66 ISUZU........................ RODEO........................ 190 52,937 3.5892

67 CHRYSLER CORP................ EAGLE VISION................. 21 5,888 3.5666

68 GENERAL MOTORS............... CHEVROLET CORVETTE........... 32 9,072 3.5273

69 MAZDA........................ MILLENIA..................... 58 17,130 3.3859

70 MITSUBISHI................... DIAMANTE..................... 95 28,208 3.3678

71 NISSAN....................... INFINITI I30................. 92 27,606 3.3326

72 FORD MOTOR CO................ TAURUS....................... 1,322 398,720 3.3156

73 NISSAN....................... INFINITI QX4................. 54 16,558 3.2613

74 ISUZU........................ TROOPER...................... 34 10,616 3.2027

75 FORD MOTOR CO................ LINCOLN TOWN CAR............. 328 104,969 3.1247

76 CHRYSLER CORP................ DODGE AVENGER................ 101 32,698 3.0889

77 GENERAL MOTORS............... CHEVROLET CAVALIER........... 969 316,265 3.0639

78 TOYOTA....................... TACOMA PICKUP TRUCK.......... 333 109,056 3.0535

79 CHRYSLER CORP................ JEEP WRANGLER................ 382 125,276 3.0493

80 KIA.......................... SEPHIA....................... 130 42,709 3.0439

81 FORD MOTOR CO................ MERCURY SABLE................ 340 114,227 2.9765

82 MAZDA........................ MX-5 MIATA................... 55 18,536 2.9672

83 GENERAL MOTORS............... CHEVROLET BLAZER S10/T10..... 624 212,327 2.9389

84 FORD MOTOR CO................ LINCOLN MARK VIII............ 48 16,339 2.9378

85 HONDA........................ PRELUDE...................... 48 16,584 2.8944

86 GENERAL MOTORS............... PONTIAC SUNFIRE.............. 305 105,493 2.8912

87 GENERAL MOTORS............... CADILLAC DEVILLE............. 274 95,151 2.8796

88 VOLVO........................ 960.......................... 52 18,140 2.8666

89 PORSCHE...................... 911.......................... 18 6,289 2.8621

90 HONDA........................ PASSPORT..................... 62 21,693 2.8581

91 HONDA........................ CIVIC........................ 933 335,167 2.7837

92 MAZDA........................ PROTEGE...................... 159 57,153 2.7820

93 FORD MOTOR CO................ EXPLORER..................... 1,105 398,992 2.7695

94 FORD MOTOR CO................ WINDSTAR VAN................. 98 36,315 2.6986

95 JAGUAR....................... XJ6.......................... 21 7,899 2.6586

96 VOLKSWAGEN................... GOLF/GTI..................... 59 22,684 2.6010

97 ACURA........................ TL........................... 55 21,441 2.5652

98 TOYOTA....................... CAMRY........................ 935 365,752 2.5564

99 GENERAL MOTORS............... PONTIAC BONNEVILLE........... 186 74,182 2.5073

100 TOYOTA...................... PASEO........................ 8 3,194 2.5047

101 TOYOTA...................... PREVIA VAN................... 12 4,840 2.4793

102 CHRYSLER CORP............... PLYMOUTH PROWLER............. 1 404 2.4752

103 BMW......................... 7............................ 43 17,788 2.4174

104 FORD MOTOR CO............... THUNDERBIRD.................. 178 73,812 2.4115

105 GENERAL MOTORS.............. OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME... 127 53,434 2.3768

106 TOYOTA...................... LEXUS ES..................... 138 59,344 2.3254

107 GENERAL MOTORS.............. CHEVROLET LUMINA/MONTE CARLO. 696 304,270 2.2874

108 FORD MOTOR CO............... MERCURY MOUNTAINEER.......... 149 65,322 2.2810

[[Page 41186]]

109 MERCEDES BENZ............... 210 (E-CLASS)................ 114 50,101 2.2754

110 VOLKSWAGEN.................. PASSAT....................... 261 1,437 2.2733

111 VOLKSWAGEN.................. JETTA........................ 208 91,809 2.2656

112 NISSAN...................... PICKUP TRUCK................. 286 130,665 2.1888

113 BMW......................... 3............................ 93 42,643 2.1809

114 HONDA....................... ACURA CL..................... 98 44,955 2.1800

115 CHRYSLER CORP............... PLYMOUTH VOYAGER............. 325 149,874 2.1685

116 GENERAL MOTORS.............. GMC SAFARI VAN............... 683 1,673 2.1469

117 GENERAL MOTORS.............. CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN.......... 213 100,116 2.1275

118 NISSAN...................... INFINITI J30................. 23 10,817 2.1263

119 TOYOTA...................... LEXUS LS..................... 381 7,900 2.1229

120 GENERAL MOTORS.............. GMC SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK...... 823 8,759 2.1156

121 JAGUAR...................... XJR.......................... 1 473 2.1142

122 TOYOTA...................... RAV4......................... 154 73,321 2.1004

123 BMW......................... 5............................ 86 41,665 2.0641

124 TOYOTA...................... T100 PICKUP TRUCK............ 62 30,389 2.0402

125 FORD MOTOR CO............... F-150 PICKUP TRUCK........... 1,265 624,093 2.0269

126 TOYOTA...................... CELICA....................... 26 12,901 2.0153

127 GENERAL MOTORS.............. GEO TRACKER.................. 49 24,400 2.0082

128 GENERAL MOTORS.............. OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA........... 54 27,722 1.9479

129 CHRYSLER CORP............... CONCORDE..................... 99 51,119 1.9367

130 CHRYSLER CORP............... DODGE CARAVAN................ 559 290,007 1.9275

131 GENERAL MOTORS.............. PONTIAC GRAND PRIX........... 275 144,767 1.8996

132 KIA......................... SPORTAGE..................... 44 23,500 1.8723

133 JAGUAR...................... XK8.......................... 15 8,242 1.8199

134 TOYOTA...................... AVALON....................... 132 73,991 1.7840

135 GENERAL MOTORS.............. CADILLAC ELDORADO............ 34 19,307 1.7610

136 GENERAL MOTORS.............. BUICK RIVIERA................ 31 18,175 1.7056

137 VOLVO....................... 850.......................... 72 42,596 1.6903

138 SAAB........................ 9000......................... 9 5,449 1.6517

139 PORSCHE..................... BOXSTER CONVERTIBLE.......... 9 5,459 1.6487

140 BMW......................... Z3........................... 34 20,636 1.6476

141 CHRYSLER CORP............... JEEP CHEROKEE................ 141 86,303 1.6338

142 FORD MOTOR CO............... RANGER PICKUP TRUCK.......... 478 296,746 1.6108

143 VOLKSWAGEN.................. CABRIO....................... 15 9,473 1.5834

144 GENERAL MOTORS.............. CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP TRUCK.. 298 190,835 1.5616

145 AUDI........................ A6........................... 12 7,736 1.5512

146 MERCEDES BENZ............... 202 (C-CLASS)................ 44 28,388 1.5500

147 CHRYSLER CORP............... DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK.... 195 128,661 1.5156

148 FORD MOTOR CO............... AEROSTAR VAN................. 78 53,721 1.4519

149 NISSAN...................... INFINITI Q45................. 18 12,398 1.4518

150 MAZDA....................... MPV.......................... 19 13,302 1.4284

151 FORD MOTOR CO............... MERCURY COUGAR............... 50 35,273 1.4175

152 MAZDA....................... B SERIES PICKUP TRUCK........ 50 35,496 1.4086

153 NISSAN...................... QUEST........................ 73 52,071 1.4019

154 GENERAL MOTORS.............. CADILLAC SEVILLE............. 52 37,187 1.3983

155 GENERAL MOTORS.............. CHEVROLET MALIBU............. 136 100,661 1.3511

156 FORD MOTOR CO............... LINCOLN CONTINENTAL.......... 43 32,204 1.3352

157 CHRYSLER CORP............... TOWN & COUNTRY MPV........... 103 78,662 1.3094

158 GENERAL MOTORS.............. CADILLAC CATERA.............. 34 26,109 1.3022

159 SUBARU...................... IMPREZA...................... 34 26,817 1.2679

160 GENERAL MOTORS.............. SATURN SC.................... 84 66,456 1.2640

161 GENERAL MOTORS.............. SATURN SL.................... 251 199,018 1.2612

162 VOLKSWAGEN.................. EUROVAN...................... 2 1,602 1.2484

163 SUBARU...................... LEGACY....................... 115 92,310 1.2458

164 FORD MOTOR CO............... MERCURY VILLAGER MPV......... 64 61,417 1.0421

165 GENERAL MOTORS.............. OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY-EIGHT...... 68 65,879 1.0322

166 GENERAL MOTORS.............. OLDSMOBILE AURORA............ 26 25,579 1.0165

167 GENERAL MOTORS.............. PONTIAC TRANS SPORT VAN...... 47 47,627 0.9868

168 AUDI........................ A4........................... 16 16,400 0.9756

169 FORD MOTOR CO............... MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS........ 124 127,973 0.9690

170 SAAB........................ 900.......................... 22 23,152 0.9502

171 HONDA....................... ACURA RL..................... 15 16,377 0.9159

172 FORD MOTOR CO............... CROWN VICTORIA............... 107 123,814 0.8642

173 AUDI........................ A8........................... 2 2,377 0.8414

174 GENERAL MOTORS.............. SATURN SW.................... 20 27,129 0.7372

175 GENERAL MOTORS.............. BUICK LESABRE................ 155 211,904 0.7315

176 GENERAL MOTORS.............. OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS........... 13 18,112 0.7178

177 HONDA....................... ODYSSEY...................... 14 22,243 0.6294

[[Page 41187]]

178 ISUZU....................... OASIS........................ 1 1,602 0.6242

179 HONDA....................... CR-V......................... 44 73,948 0.5950

180 GENERAL MOTORS.............. OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE VAN.... 12 20,927 0.5734

181 GENERAL MOTORS.............. CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN........ 38 71,649 0.5304

182 GENERAL MOTORS.............. BUICK CENTURY................ 27 53,706 0.5027

183 GENERAL MOTORS.............. BUICK PARK AVENUE............ 28 59,549 0.4702

184 GENERAL MOTORS.............. BUICK REGAL.................. 7 21,828 0.3207

185 AUDI........................ CABRIOLET.................... 0 1,201 0.0000

186 CHRYSLER CORP............... DODGE VIPER.................. 0 1,537 0.0000

187 FERRARI..................... F355......................... 0 622 0.0000

188 FERRARI..................... 456.......................... 0 70 0.0000

189 FERRARI..................... 550.......................... 0 94 0.0000

190 GENERAL MOTORS.............. BUICK FUNERAL COACH/HEARSE... 0 546 0.0000

191 GENERAL MOTORS.............. CADILLAC LIMOUSINE........... 0 445 0.0000

192 GENERAL MOTORS.............. SATURN EV1................... 0 2,000 0.0000

193 HONDA....................... ACURA NSX.................... 0 322 0.0000

194 JAGUAR...................... VANDEN PLAS.................. 0 2,536 0.0000

195 LAMBORGHINI................. DB132/DIABLO................. 0 74 0.0000

196 LOTUS....................... ESPRIT....................... 0 121 0.0000

197 ROLLS-ROYCE................. BENTLEY AZURE................ 0 81 0.0000

198 ROLLS-ROYCE................. BENTLEY BROOKLANDS........... 0 135 0.0000

199 ROLLS-ROYCE................. BENTLEY CONTINENTAL T........ 0 40 0.0000

200 ROLLS-ROYCE................. BENTLEY TURBO R.............. 0 54 0.0000

201 ROLLS-ROYCE................. SILVER DAWN.................. 0 21 0.0000

202 ROLLS-ROYCE................. SILVER SPUR.................. 0 113 0.0000

203 ROLLS-ROYCE................. PARK WARD LIMOUSINE.......... 0 1 0.0000

204 TOYOTA...................... LEXUS GS..................... 0 187 0.0000

205 VECTOR AUTO................. AVTECH SC/M12................ 0 4 0.0000

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\1\ These vehicles were manufactured for sale only in U.S. territories under the Chrysler nameplate.

Issued on: July 23, 1999.

L. Robert Shelton,

Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 99-19448 Filed 7-28-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P