CSA BASIC Category
Vehicle Maintenance Violations
Brakes, tires, lights, suspension, periodic inspection, DVIR compliance.
80 catalogued codes
80 OOS-eligible
Intervention threshold: 65th percentile
80 codes
BASIC
Vehicle Maintenance
Catalogued codes
80
OOS-eligible
80
Max severity
10/10
Avg severity
3.8/10
FMCSA threshold
65th percentile
What this BASIC means
The Vehicle Maintenance BASIC tracks 49 CFR Parts 393 (Vehicle Standards) and 396 (Inspection, Repair, Maintenance). This is the largest BASIC by violation volume — roughly 60% of all roadside violations are Vehicle Maintenance. Brakes, tires, and lights are the top three categories. CSA threshold is 65th percentile (50th for hazmat). A pattern of vehicle violations is the fastest way into FMCSA's intervention pipeline because they're easy to verify and easy to fix.
Overview
The Vehicle Maintenance BASIC tracks 49 CFR Parts 393 (Vehicle Standards) and 396 (Inspection, Repair, Maintenance). This is the largest BASIC by violation volume — roughly 60% of all roadside violations are Vehicle Maintenance. Brakes, tires, and lights are the top three categories. CSA threshold is 65th percentile (50th for hazmat). A pattern of vehicle violations is the fastest way into FMCSA's intervention pipeline because they're easy to verify and easy to fix.
Top violations in this BASIC
393.95(a) (no/inadequate emergency equipment) is one of the most-cited vehicle violations, weight 4. Three reflective triangles, fire extinguisher, spare fuses — easy to forget, easy to fix. 393.45 (brake hose/tubing chafing or leaking) is the most-cited brake violation, weight 4. 393.75 (tire condition — tread, sidewall, inflation) is the most-cited tire violation, weight 8 + OOS in many cases.
How to lower your Vehicle Maintenance BASIC
Annual DOT inspection at a qualified shop. Pre-trip inspection every shift (driver signs DVIR per 396.11). Preventive maintenance interval no longer than 25,000 miles or 90 days for Class 8 — quicker for severe-duty. Address driver-reported defects within 24 hours and document the repair in the DVIR. Use Whip Around / FleetUp / Samsara DVIR app to digitize — paper DVIRs lose 30% of defects in transit.
All 80 violations in Vehicle Maintenance
396.9C249 CFR 396
Operating vehicle declared out-of-service
Sev 10/10OOS
393.75A49 CFR 393
Flat tire or audible air leak
Sev 8/10OOS
393.75A149 CFR 393
Tire ply or belt material exposed
Sev 8/10OOS
393.75A349 CFR 393
Tire with fabric exposed
Sev 8/10OOS
393.75F49 CFR 393
Tire on steering axle under 4/32 inch tread
Sev 8/10OOS
393.75G49 CFR 393
Tire on non-steering axle under 2/32 inch tread
Sev 8/10OOS
393.83A249 CFR 393
Exhaust discharges into cab/sleeper
Sev 7/10OOS
393.5A49 CFR 393
Coupling device defective (fifth wheel, pintle, kingpin)
Sev 6/10OOS
393.7149 CFR 393
Coupling devices not maintained
Sev 6/10OOS
393.8349 CFR 393
Exhaust leak (any location)
Sev 6/10OOS
393.83A149 CFR 393
Exhaust leak under cab/sleeper
Sev 6/10OOS
393.8649 CFR 393
Rear impact guard (underride bar) defective or missing
Sev 6/10
393.9A49 CFR 393
Inoperative required lamps
Sev 6/10
396.5A49 CFR 396
Inadequate periodic inspection (no annual or out of date)
Sev 6/10
393.100A49 CFR 393
Failed to prevent cargo shifting
Sev 5/10OOS
393.10249 CFR 393
Tiedown WLL not stated/insufficient
Sev 5/10OOS
393.10649 CFR 393
Cargo not blocked or braced to prevent shifting
Sev 5/10OOS
393.11049 CFR 393
Insufficient tiedowns for cargo weight
Sev 5/10OOS
393.12249 CFR 393
Intermodal container not properly secured
Sev 5/10OOS
393.13049 CFR 393
Load not properly secured (general)
Sev 5/10OOS
393.7849 CFR 393
Windshield wipers inoperative or insufficient
Sev 5/10OOS
393.1949 CFR 393
Hazard warning signals inoperative
Sev 4/10
393.201A49 CFR 393
Frame cracked
Sev 4/10OOS
393.205A49 CFR 393
Wheel cracked
Sev 4/10OOS
393.205B49 CFR 393
Loose, broken, or missing wheel fastener
Sev 4/10OOS
393.205C49 CFR 393
Wheel stud cross-threaded or stripped
Sev 4/10OOS
393.207A49 CFR 393
Suspension u-bolt/hanger/bracket loose or missing
Sev 4/10OOS
393.207B49 CFR 393
Leaf spring cracked or broken
Sev 4/10OOS
393.207C49 CFR 393
Air suspension airbag broken or damaged
Sev 4/10OOS
393.209A49 CFR 393
Steering wheel free play exceeds limits
Sev 4/10OOS
393.4049 CFR 393
Required brakes inoperative
Sev 4/10OOS
393.4249 CFR 393
Required brakes inoperative (auxiliary axle, dolly)
Sev 4/10OOS
393.42A49 CFR 393
Wheels not equipped with brakes as required
Sev 4/10OOS
393.4349 CFR 393
Trailer breakaway protection inoperative
Sev 4/10OOS
393.43A49 CFR 393
Brake performance below standards
Sev 4/10OOS
393.4449 CFR 393
Front brake line/hose missing or inoperative
Sev 4/10OOS
393.45A49 CFR 393
Brake tubing/hose damaged
Sev 4/10OOS
393.45B249 CFR 393
Brake tubing/hose with constrictions or chafing
Sev 4/10OOS
393.45D49 CFR 393
Air brake hose with audible leak
Sev 4/10OOS
393.47A49 CFR 393
Brake pushrod travel exceeds adjustment limit
Sev 4/10OOS
393.47B49 CFR 393
Brakes not connected/operative on wheels required to have them
Sev 4/10OOS
393.47E49 CFR 393
Clamp/brake out of adjustment
Sev 4/10OOS
393.47F49 CFR 393
Steering axle (front) brake out of adjustment
Sev 4/10OOS
393.48A49 CFR 393
Inoperative brakes
Sev 4/10OOS
393.5149 CFR 393
Air pressure gauge inoperative
Sev 4/10OOS
393.5249 CFR 393
Low air pressure warning device inoperative
Sev 4/10OOS
393.55A49 CFR 393
Anti-lock brake system malfunction (ABS)
Sev 4/10
393.6249 CFR 393
Bus emergency exits inoperative
Sev 4/10OOS
393.65A49 CFR 393
Fuel tank leaking or insecure
Sev 4/10OOS
393.6949 CFR 393
Fuel tank insufficiently mounted
Sev 4/10OOS
393.7949 CFR 393
Defroster/defogger inoperative
Sev 4/10OOS
393.8749 CFR 393
Improperly flagged projecting load
Sev 4/10
393.9349 CFR 393
Seat belt assembly inoperative or non-compliant
Sev 4/10OOS
393.95E49 CFR 393
No warning flag for projecting load
Sev 4/10
396.17A49 CFR 396
No annual periodic inspection record
Sev 4/10
396.3A149 CFR 396
Inadequate brake — failure to maintain
Sev 4/10
393.1149 CFR 393
Required equipment missing or improper
Sev 2/10
393.1349 CFR 393
Conspicuity treatment missing or non-compliant
Sev 2/10
393.1749 CFR 393
Clearance, identification, side-marker lamps inoperative
Sev 2/10
393.2049 CFR 393
Rear reflectors missing/non-compliant
Sev 2/10
393.2449 CFR 393
Headlamp out of adjustment (aim)
Sev 2/10
393.3049 CFR 393
Battery installation deficient
Sev 2/10
393.6049 CFR 393
Windshield cracked or discolored in driver's view
Sev 2/10
393.95B49 CFR 393
No or defective fire extinguisher
Sev 2/10
392.749 CFR 392
Operating CMV without inspecting vehicle parts and accessories (no pre-trip)
Sev 1/10
393.5049 CFR 393
Air reservoir not equipped with manual drain valve
Sev 1/10
393.6749 CFR 393
Fuel tank cap missing or improper
Sev 1/10
393.75D49 CFR 393
Tire under-inflated (less than 50% of cold inflation pressure)
Sev 1/10
393.8149 CFR 393
Horn inoperative
Sev 1/10
393.8249 CFR 393
Speedometer inoperative
Sev 1/10
393.8449 CFR 393
Floor in unsafe condition (cracked, rusted)
Sev 1/10
393.95A49 CFR 393
No or defective emergency equipment (triangles, flares, fuses)
Sev 1/10
393.95C49 CFR 393
No spare bulbs for required lamps
Sev 1/10
393.95D49 CFR 393
No fusees, flares, or electric lanterns
Sev 1/10
393.95F49 CFR 393
Emergency equipment missing or insufficient
Sev 1/10
393.95G49 CFR 393
No spare fuses on truck
Sev 1/10
393.9B49 CFR 393
Inoperative other lamps (non-required)
Sev 1/10
396.11A49 CFR 396
No driver vehicle inspection report
Sev 1/10
396.11B49 CFR 396
DVIR missing required content
Sev 1/10
396.5B49 CFR 396
Driver did not review last DVIR
Sev 1/10
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC?
The Vehicle Maintenance BASIC is one of seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS). The Vehicle Maintenance BASIC tracks 49 CFR Parts 393 (Vehicle Standards) and 396 (Inspection, Repair, Maintenance). This is the largest BASIC by violation volume — roughly 60% of all roadside violations are Vehicle Maintenance. Brakes, tires, and lights are the top three categories. CSA threshold is 65th percentile (50th for hazmat). A pattern of vehicle violations is the fastest way into FMCSA's intervention pipeline because they're easy to verify and easy to fix.
What CSA percentile triggers FMCSA intervention for Vehicle Maintenance?
FMCSA's intervention threshold for Vehicle Maintenance is the 65th percentile. Once a carrier crosses, FMCSA can issue a Warning Letter, conduct an Off-Site Investigation (request documents remotely), conduct an On-Site Focused Investigation (auditor visits but only reviews this BASIC), or a full Compliance Review (auditor reviews everything). Compliance Reviews are how Conditional or Unsatisfactory safety ratings happen — those can shut down a carrier.
How can I see my carrier's Vehicle Maintenance score?
Go to FMCSA's SMS website (ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms), enter your USDOT number, and look at the BASIC scorecard. Each BASIC shows your percentile rank, the violations contributing, and the time-weighting. The data updates monthly. Drivers can see their own PSP report at the FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program portal — it covers driver-side BASICs (Unsafe Driving, HOS, Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances).
Which violations in this BASIC are out-of-service eligible?
80 of the 80 catalogued Vehicle Maintenance violations are out-of-service eligible. OOS-eligible means the inspector can take the driver or truck off the road at the inspection site — the truck/driver cannot continue until the defect is corrected. Browse the OOS-eligible list above to see which specific codes can put you OOS.
How long do Vehicle Maintenance violations stay on my CSA score?
All BASICs use the same 24-month time-weighting: 3× points months 0-6, 2× months 7-12, 1× months 13-24, then drops off. Driver-side violations also appear on the driver's PSP report for 36 months. If you successfully challenge a citation via DataQs, it can be removed from CSA — but you have to file the challenge yourself within 24 months.