Import 2015 Mazda3 into USA - need to add TPMS to be allowed?

[wyattea]

Hey all, I have a 2015 Mazda3 Sport GS, bought a year ago, suddenly have a job transfer and find out my car doesn't have a tire pressure monitoring system which is a requirement to import it into the US. I've seen kit's on amazon that ads sensors to each wheel and an lcd display powered by the cigarette lighter, anyone have any experience with installing/using these or know that US Customs is OK with this?

Any info is appreciated!

Wyatt...

[FD22]

Where did you get this info about needing TPMS to import a car into the US?

I'm not aware of such a rule. Many people, including myself, have imported their Canadian cars, not equipped with TPMS, into the US with no issues.

[wyattea]

Where did you get this info about needing TPMS to import a car into the US?

I'm not aware of such a rule. Many people, including myself, have imported their Canadian cars, not equipped with TPMS, into the US with no issues.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/VIG%20Canada10102012.pdf

Mazda Canada gave me letter saying my car met all epa and dot standards except FMVSS 138, and the border guard said I can't import it because of that issue (quote from my letter):

1. FMVSS 138 – Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS Requirement)
As a result, Mazda Canada Inc. is unable to certify this vehicle’s compliance with all applicable U.S. safety requirements...

[Cab0oze]

Subbed, I may have to import a brand new non-tpms equipped car in the very near future. Subaru dealership told me I could import no modifications required

[FD22]

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/VIG%20Canada10102012.pdf

Mazda Canada gave me letter saying my car met all epa and dot standards except FMVSS 138, and the border guard said I can't import it because of that issue (quote from my letter):

1. FMVSS 138 – Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS Requirement)
As a result, Mazda Canada Inc. is unable to certify this vehicle’s compliance with all applicable U.S. safety requirements...

Hmm that's interesting. Can't open the PDF though, as it's giving me an error upon opening (at least on my phone). Maybe it's a different set of rules for newer cars or something.

[Cab0oze]

Wtf!!!!

While the TPMS is not a requirement in Canada, the U.S. Federal Regulations require that all new light vehicles sold in the U.S. since September 2007 be equipped with a TPMS. Some manufacturers do offer TPMS on vehicles sold in Canada as either standard or optional equipmenthttp://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/roadsafety-1158.htm
That means even my speed is non-conforming!!

But sounds like some people may have gotten it to work...
http://www.canuckabroad.com/forums/importing-car-with-no-tpms-advice-vt20213.html

Gahhhh what a bunch of BS.

[SonicBoy]

I thought the 3rd gen Mazda 3 used speed sensors to determine if there was low tire pressure for TPMS.

Have you looked in the owners manual about this (4-103)? (http://www.mazda.ca/globalassets/en/pdf/manuals/mazda3/mazda3_2015my_edition1_e.pdf)

[wyattea]

The manual is generic and has lots of asterisks (*) to indicate that not all models have the particular feature. The letter from Mazda Canada is pretty specific that my car (VIN #) doesn't have TPMS.

[Reddie1337]

The manual is generic and has lots of asterisks (*) to indicate that not all models have the particular feature. The letter from Mazda Canada is pretty specific that my car (VIN #) doesn't have TPMS.

I have heard about this problem from a mechanic friend of mine. I don't know what to do about getting around it though. I wonder if the car has the setting, and would have to be installed and turned on by the dealer.

[wyattea]

http://toolmonger.com/2010/10/08/retrofitting-retaining-tpms/

This is a retrofit option, but don't know if border will accept it.

[Kiewan]

Where did you get this info about needing TPMS to import a car into the US?

I'm not aware of such a rule. Many people, including myself, have imported their Canadian cars, not equipped with TPMS, into the US with no issues.

When I sold some Subaru steelies last year on Kijiji, an American came up from Michigan to grab them so he could install the sensors. Not sure how but that was his story lol.

[wyattea]

Where did you get this info about needing TPMS to import a car into the US?

I'm not aware of such a rule. Many people, including myself, have imported their Canadian cars, not equipped with TPMS, into the US with no issues.

Do you have the name of a registered importer you've used and recommend? Even if i retro-fitted it, the border guard will only have the letter from mazda saying it's not compliant, i can't just add something and say it's done, I need a registered importer to bring it in and confirm it's been made compliant.

I even ordered a kit and a local tire biz willing to install it and had to cancel before they shipped because the registered importer out of Niagara Falls says the border will only accept mazda dealership installed TPMS kits from Mazda (they used to be ok with after-market brands but not anymore)... but Mazda doesn't MAKE kits that you can install after-market, they only install them when building the car... so i think that guy's an idiot... or hoping he is...

[Cab0oze]

Bump... so wyattea, what ended up happening?

[nyrol]

Hey I have a 2015 GS Sport as well, and successfully imported it. I drove it from Toronto to Seattle where I went to a CBP office. I told them straight up that it doesn't conform, but I drove it all the way here, and it would be difficult to sell it in British Columbia with Ontario registration. The officer took a look at all the stickers, looking for the FMVSS and EPA/CARB ones, obviously didn't find them, and then wrote that they were all present on the import form. He never asked to see the non-conformity letter which I had, or even the bill of sale. I had bought it about a week before I moved to the US (I bought out my lease thinking there'd be no trouble importing it, which is what my Mazda dealer led me to believe), and didn't even have to pay duty on it. Successfully registered it in Washington State. The weird part was that when the DOL looked up the VIN, it came up as a 3.0L engine, when it's definitely a 2.0L. So now, according to Washington, it should be a 3.0L. That may be an issue when I go to sell it, but I'll deal with that in 10 years.

All I'm really saying is that if you can convince a CBP officer to let you import it, try that route first. It may have also helped that I have a temporary 3 year work visa in the states, and no confirming vehicles can only be registered for a year before being exported back to Canada.

[jiteshsoni1990@gmail.com]

Thanks for all the advice. I was able to import my car even though all the registered importers denied. I went to the CBP office in Seattle; and told them that my car did not have TPMS. They said as long as I can get it installed and provide them some paperwork they should be fine with it.

So I brought an after-market TPMS from Amazon and installed the TPMS in my car. Furthermore, I wrote a self-declaration stating what I installed to meet compliance for TPMS. I also attached a bill of purchase and TPMS product description. Took all these docs and my car to CBP Seattle, and they imported my car.

[jiteshsoni1990@gmail.com]

Thanks for all the advice. I was able to import my car even though all the registered importers denied. I went to the CBP office in Seattle; and told them that my car did not have TPMS. They said as long as I can get it installed and provide them some paperwork they should be fine with it.

So I brought an after-market TPMS from Amazon and installed the TPMS in my car. Furthermore, I wrote a self-declaration stating what I installed to meet compliance for TPMS. I also attached a bill of purchase and TPMS product description. Took all these docs and my car to CBP Seattle, and they imported my car.