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No TPMS = Goodbye Forester XT Touring!

('14-'18) 
15K views 27 replies 21 participants last post by  Kevin 
#1 ·
I thought I was all smart, (outsmarted evidently!). I bought a Forester XT up here in Canada. Come to find, I'm unable to bring it back to the states. So far, talking to registered importers, and scouring the web I find no legal way to bring the car back without TPMS.

If anyone knows exceptions that will permit it I'm interested. I've learned the system has to be OEM, so no aftermarket sensors and bolt on readers. The whole OEM shebang is cost prohibitive, if it can be even be done. The verdict isn't in on this fact.



Anyway I think I'm SOL and must sell the car. :crying:
 
#2 ·
Wow that sucks big time.
not that hard to have stock TPMS sensors installed.
I would do that before selling .
I had a winter set of tires and wheels made up and added TPMS stock sensors.
The problem was when I switched back to the new summer wheels I had the TPMS light come and stay on. I went to the dealer and they gave me the run around so I purchased the Autel TS508 tool for a couple hundred and reset the TPMS . Now I do it myself.
The dealer hates me. LOL
 
#3 ·
It's not the sensors in the wheels that are a problem. Yes, those are easy enough. But the Canadian Forester is not equipped with the software to read the sensors. That is the rub. And installing this after the fact is (what I'm told) nearly impossible to do, if not impossible to do.
 
#6 · (Edited)
#5 · (Edited)
You may be on to something aggie113. However the posts I've found seem less than straightforward. Things are lucygoosey. Things such as I had a friend in the army and we went through.... or recently I found a guy in Washington DC who said for $900.00 he'd set me up. And I wouldn't have to pay a bond. This may be true but if it isn't then I'm out 900 and a car. The more DOT websites I read the less likely it sounds like it can be done. I've contacted a few Registered Importers. Most tell me no you can't do it. There may be a gray area and that will get you through, but that sounds like a crapshoot. If they don't let your car through you're SOL.


I've read of people getting though with aftermarket TPMS. But then the documents state this isn't legal. I'm not in a gambling mood.:nerd:


https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/674653-importing-a-vehicle-subaru-without-tpms-success/
 
#10 ·
#11 ·
This email from NHTSA pretty much spells it out. If you got your car into the U.S. w/out TPMS and you're titled and registered. Lucky for you. I'm out a few dollars, I'm only glad I didn't do a bunch of modification, i.e. wheels, exhaust, suspension. I'll sell this one and find another one in the states.

Hello,

By way of background, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 138, as found in 49 CFR 571.138, specifies performance requirements for tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to warn drivers of significant under-inflation of tires and the resulting safety problems this condition can produce. The standard applies to all passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less, except for vehicles with dual wheels on an axle, that are manufactured on or after September 1, 2007.

The law establishes a self-certification process in which vehicle and equipment manufacturers themselves certify that all of their products are in compliance with all applicable FMVSSs, which establish minimum criteria that the product must meet. NHTSA does not approve or certify any motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment items as complying with all applicable FMVSS. That is instead the responsibility of the vehicle or equipment item's original manufacturer.

If the manufacturer’s letter states that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS but does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems because the vehicle does not have a tire pressure monitoring system installed by the vehicle’s original manufacturer which is identical to, and with the same part number(s) as the system the manufacturer installs on vehicles manufactured for sale in the U.S., the vehicle cannot be permanently imported as a conforming motor vehicle under Box 2B on the HS-7 Declaration form https://icsw.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/HS7_r.v.7.pdf. The vehicle can only be imported as a conforming motor vehicle under Box 2B if the importer furnishes CBP with an invoice from a franchised dealer or authorized repair facility of the vehicle’s original manufacturer showing that a tire pressure monitoring system identical to, and with the same part number(s) as the system the manufacturer installs on vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States has been installed on the vehicle for which entry is sought. An aftermarket TPMS does not conform to FMVSS No. 138. If a retrofit is not available for the vehicle by the manufacturer, the vehicle cannot be permanently imported into the U.S. as a U.S.-conforming vehicle under Box 2A or Box 2B on the HS-7 Declaration form, and it is not eligible to be imported by or through a registered importer under Box 3 on the HS-7 Declaration form.

Hope this information is helpful.

Import and Certification Division

Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.

West Building, Fourth Floor, NEF-230

Washington, DC 20590

Phone: 202-366-5291

Email: importcertification@dot.gov

Website: www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import
 
#15 ·
Suggest you csll US Customs Seattle Downtown Office. NOT SeaTac or YVR airport baggage. Ask to be connected to an Import Specialist who deals with vehicle imports. That is the person who does have the answers because they are the ones who know laws and process approvals and denials.
US spec vehicles will have a federal compliance plate under the hood or on the drivers door jamb. Also make sure your next vehicle meets your next state requirements.
 
#25 ·
Don't forget emissions

US spec vehicles will have a federal compliance plate under the hood or on the drivers door jamb. Also make sure your next vehicle meets your next state requirements.
California has been a leader in the emissions control area for decades. There are Federal emissions standards and then there are the more stringent California (CARB) standards. 12-15 states currently require that your vehicle meet the higher CARB standards. Many of these states require an annual or bi-annual emissions inspection in order to register your vehicle. If you attempt to import a car that meets Federal standards you might find that it does not meet the higher CARB standards and you likely will be denied registration.

In 1990 I moved from Colorado to California. It cost me a one-time $300 Smog Impact Fee to register a "nonconforming" Subaru GL sedan. No modifications required - just pay the fee. And – no refund when I left the state 4 years later. :crying:
 
#16 ·
Wow, what a crock of crap, that we have to wrap everyone in bubble wrap these days, what a waste that you couldn't import the car! How many people ignore the little lights on the dashboard everyday anyways? lol

Remember when common sense was more common and people regularly checked tire pressure and added it on their own without help from the government?
 
#17 ·
I like TPMS and I'm glad the government has made it mandatory. We are lazy. I want my car to let me know I have a tire with nail in it and it is loosing pressure. The only time i usually check it is before a long trip.
 
#20 ·
One of the main reasons TPMS systems were developed was the problem of very low profile tire equipped performance cars getting flats on the Autobahns in Germany. The total air volume in such a tire is such that if you get an air leak at speed you have very little time before you have a flat with potential catastrophic results. Add this to the Firestone tire debacle and related fatalities years ago with the rather simple technology of the TMPS systems with their widespread use and success in Europe, then the mandatory nature of them being required here becomes obvious.
 
#22 ·
The real question is why they are selling cars in Canada without TPMS. How much could that possibly save in manufacturing costs? There’s no way it could be more than $200 to keep the TPMS software and pop the sensors and antenna during production.

I have the same opinion about the standard for requiring a backup camera—if done on the production line it really just requires a $20 camera module and a wire run to plug it into the head unit but if it weren’t required all the manufacturers would make it an $800 option.
 
#23 ·
I agree with both statements. It would be significantly cheaper to add these items at time of manufacture, standardized production across multiple countries and give a better customer experience in most cases. As it stands they either have to have some dedicated production lines for US and Canada or some process to add these components during the manufacturing process.

In some ways it reminds me of Ford and the Pinto. For want of $1.50 in parts people died and Ford was found at fault. Washers and a rubber bladder for the gas tank would have substantially reduce, if not eliminate the fires the Pintos experienced.

We have laws for a reason. Look at nearly every law and it was put in place because of some action or event. Complaining about government making laws to keep citizens safe is the wrong attitude IMHO.

But this thread isn't about that. Let's not stray into politics. :D
 
#24 ·
I tried to get Subaru to let me import a manual transmission crosstrek with factory sunroof. Price was good too. It required a manufacturer statement of compliance even with tpms added. Subaru pretty much laughed at me. Sucks that they get options we don't. So in the end Subaru lost a sale as they don't have what I want.
 
#27 ·
The reason for not having TPMS in Canada is that the systems are problematic in areas with large temperature swings, and because many people keep two complete sets of tires, one for winter, and adding sensors would increase the cost to a point where people would be likely to put off the extra safety of buying proper winter tires. There are cars that have them, but it's not something that is mandatory as the gov has not found there is a need for it.
 
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