Americas Safety Inspection - Lights not DOT Marked

[ Adam ] · Dec 22, 2023

According to a post on Facebook, it looks like a Virginia state inspector failed a Grenadier because the lights were not marked with DOT. If this is the case, this will be expensive for Ineos to fix.

Can anyone take a survey of their vehicle and document which lights are, and which lights are not marked DOT?

VA Code requires:

A. Inspect for and reject if:

1. Any motor vehicle is not equipped with at least two headlamps of an approved type. An approved headlamp assembly that contains bulbs for both the high and low beams within the same housing shall be considered one headlamp. The headlamps must be marked with the headlamp manufacturer's name or trademark, and DOT. If the headlamp bulbs are replaceable, the headlamp lens must be marked with the headlamp light source type (bulb) for which it was designed and the bulb must match the lens code.

Based on some internet sleuthing, I think these are classified as Aux lamps, and not headlamps.

VA Code

[ Adam ] · Dec 22, 2023

Real time update from the facebook thread - it looks like this may be limited to the off road lights - which are not intended for on road use.

They may be required to cover them as Nissan needed to do on the Xterra's.

Reducs · Dec 22, 2023

It's things like this that make me shake my head and must really confuse our overseas friends. We can make any number of questionable (insane?) modifications to our vehicles that would get them immediately impounded and fined like tires and half baked suspension "improvements", but those lights you're not going to use? COVER THEM! NOW! 'DOT' isn't stamped on the lens!

[ Adam ] · Dec 22, 2023

Reducs said:
It's things like this that make me shake my head and must really confuse our overseas friends. We can make any number of questionable (insane?) modifications to our vehicles that would get them immediately impounded and fined like tires and half baked suspension "improvements", but those lights you're not going to use? COVER THEM! NOW! 'DOT' isn't stamped on the lens!

I'll take our way over TUV any day of the week

Roach · Dec 22, 2023

We use to turn the light around when on-road. SAE vs DOT vs confusion in California (CHO) has been there (my experience) since the 70’s. This was a miss by Ineos IMO.

[ Adam ] · Dec 22, 2023

Roach said:
We use to turn the light around when on-road. SAE vs DOT vs confusion in California (CHO) has been there (my experience) since the 70’s. This was a miss by Ineos IMO.

I think the vehicle likely conforms with NHTSA FMVSS and this is an error on the part of the inspector.

Lemon35 · Dec 22, 2023

Marking not present on off-road lights.

[ Adam ] · Dec 22, 2023

[ Adam ] said:
I think the vehicle likely conforms with NHTSA FMVSS and this is an error on the part of the inspector.

Confirmed - the vehicle has passed VA inspection.

Chadd7 · Dec 22, 2023

I haven't tried to turn on the spot lights on the grill, but they can only be turned on in off-road mode.

stickshifter · Dec 22, 2023

Some states require off-road lights to be covered, others do not. Below are two websites that have info on laws for each state in the U.S. with regard to auxiliary off-road lights in general, and light-bars specifically (I know the Gren doesn't come with a light bar from the factory). I haven't fact-checked the info or anything, but it seems like these might be useful:

Are Light Bars and Aux Lights Legal On-Road

Light Bar Laws by State

holdmybeer · Dec 22, 2023

SSSHHHHH! That means we're getting the GOOD lights. Don't wreck the party.

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Americas Safety Inspection - Lights not DOT Marked

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