49 U.S.C. § 30102 — Definitions

(a) General definitions. — In this chapter, “covered rental vehicle” means a motor vehicle rated at 10,000 pounds or less, rented without a driver for an initial term under 4 months, and in a rental company’s fleet of at least 35 vehicles. “Dealer” means a person who mainly sells and distributes new vehicles or equipment to people who in good faith buy for purposes other than resale. “Defect” includes a performance, construction, component, or material defect. “Distributor” mainly sells and distributes vehicles or equipment for resale. “Interstate commerce” is commerce between places in different States, or between places in one State through another State. “Manufacturer” makes or assembles vehicles or equipment, or imports them for resale. “Motor vehicle” is mechanically driven or drawn transportation made mainly for public streets, roads, or highways, but not a vehicle operated only on a rail line. “Motor vehicle equipment” means (A) an originally manufactured vehicle system, part, or component; (B) a similar replacement, improvement, accessory, or addition; or (C) a device, article, or apparel, including a motorcycle helmet but not prescribed medicine or eyeglasses, that is not a vehicle system, part, or component and is made, sold, delivered, or offered for public-road use to protect vehicle users from accident, injury, or death. “Motor vehicle safety” means vehicle or equipment performance that protects the public from unreasonable accident risk caused by design, construction, or performance and from unreasonable death or injury risk in an accident; it includes nonoperational safety. “Motor vehicle safety standard” means a minimum performance standard for a vehicle or its equipment. “Rental company” means a person in the business of renting covered rental vehicles and whose fleet averages at least 35 such vehicles during a calendar year. “State” means a U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands. “United States district court” means a U.S. district court, a U.S. court for Guam, the Virgin Islands, or American Samoa, or the district court for the Northern Mariana Islands. (b) Limited definitions. — In sections 30117(b), 30118–30121, and 30166(f): (1) “Adequate repair” does not include a repair that substantially harms vehicle or equipment operation. “First purchaser” means the first buyer other than for resale. “Original equipment” means equipment, including a tire, installed in or on a vehicle when delivered to that buyer. “Replacement equipment” is equipment, including a tire, that is not original equipment. A brand-name owner of a tire marketed under a brand it does not own is treated as the tire’s manufacturer. A defect or safety-standard noncompliance in original equipment is treated as a defect or noncompliance in the vehicle where it was installed when delivered. The maker of that vehicle is treated as the maker of the equipment. A tire retreader is treated as the tire’s manufacturer. (2) The Transportation Secretary may issue regulations changing the rules about original equipment, replacement equipment, and the two related deeming rules in subparagraphs (C), (D), (F), and (G).