Data / Federal rules / 2026-05023
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 103 and FMVSS No. 104 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Incorporation by Reference
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published this proposed rule in the Federal Register on March 16, 2026. Comments closed on April 15, 2026.
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What the agency says
NHTSA is proposing to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 103, "Windshield defrosting and defogging systems," and FMVSS No. 104, "Windshield wiping and washing systems." The proposed modifications would except vehicles equipped with Automated Driving Systems (ADS) that do not have manually operated driving controls from these standards. This rulemaking would remove unnecessary regulatory burdens and costs associated with systems intended to provide visibility for a person driving the vehicle. As these systems do not fulfill the same safety need on an ADS-equipped vehicle without manually operated driving controls, the proposed changes are not expected to have adverse safety effects. Manufacturers may still provide these systems if they choose to do so. These actions are part of a larger NHTSA effort to address vehicle automation in the agency's regulations. This proposal would also harmonize FMVSS Nos. 103 and 104 with current industry standards through incorporations by reference.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2026-05023
- Type
- Proposed rule
- Action
- Notice of proposed rulemaking
- Agency
- Transportation Department; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Published
- March 16, 2026
- Comments due
- April 15, 2026
- Dates
- Comments should be submitted no later than April 15, 2026.
- Docket
- Docket No. NHTSA-2026-0629
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 2127-AM71
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 49 CFR 571
- Topics
- Incorporation by reference; Motor vehicle safety; Motor vehicles
- Significant
- Yes, under Executive Order 12866
- Pages
- 9
Other documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Everything from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration · Rules on incorporation by reference · Rules on motor vehicle safety · Rules on motor vehicles · Published in March 2026
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.