FMCSR 393.203(c) Hood Not Securely Fastened: Driver Q&A

Almost certainly not. Across 10,792 all-time citations for 393.203(c), only 57 vehicles were placed out of service — an OOS rate of just 0.5%. For context, the average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes in our inspection database is 31.4%, so this violation sits far below the national norm. Inspectors retain discretion in extreme cases, which explains the 57 OOS instances, but the overwhelming majority — 10,735 vehicles — received the citation and kept rolling. Fix the hood latch as soon as safely possible, but a roadside shutdown is not the typical outcome here.

The FMCSA CSA program assigns a severity weight to each violation code; a specific severity weight figure is not available in our current data for 393.203(c). What we can tell you is that CSA points are multiplied based on how recently the violation occurred — citations in the past 6 months carry the heaviest multiplier, dropping at the 6-month and 12-month marks before falling off after 3 years. Because 393.203(c) is not OOS-eligible under normal circumstances and carries a 0.5% historical OOS rate, it is generally treated as a lower-severity finding. Check your SMS BASIC scores directly on the FMCSA Safety Measurement System portal to see the exact point impact on your record.

Take these steps immediately:

1. Secure the hood before moving. A loose hood is a real road hazard regardless of OOS status.
2. Document the repair. Have a mechanic inspect and repair the latch mechanism, and retain the repair order with date and technician signature.
3. Check your full inspection report. Our inspection records show that hood violations often appear alongside other vehicle maintenance findings, so review every line of the citation sheet and address all listed defects.
4. Update your pre-trip checklist. Hood security should be a fixed step — verify the latch engages fully and the hood sits flush before every departure.
5. Log the citation in your fleet maintenance system so it can be tracked for CSA BASIC impact and future DataQs review if needed.

Relative to other Vehicle Maintenance violations, 393.203(c) is on the low end of severity. Its 0.5% OOS rate compares very favorably to peer codes in the same category: 396.3(a)(1) (general inspection/repair/maintenance) carries a 45.3% OOS rate across 236,919 citations, and even the high-volume 393.9(a) inoperable lamps code runs a 15.4% OOS rate across 660,737 citations. The all-FMCSR average sits at 31.4%, making 393.203(c)'s 0.5% rate look minimal. That said, at #221 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume, it is cited often enough that inspectors clearly watch for it — so don't dismiss it as obscure.

Yes, you can submit a Request for Data Review (RDR) through the FMCSA DataQs system for any roadside inspection finding, including 393.203(c). Because this is an equipment condition violation — not a documentation-based finding — a successful challenge typically requires evidence that the hood was, in fact, properly secured at the time of inspection. Useful supporting evidence includes repair records showing no defect was found, photos taken immediately after the stop, or a mechanic's signed inspection report. If the citation was issued in error or the inspector misidentified the condition, DataQs is the correct channel to request a correction. The process is handled by the state agency that conducted the inspection.

Our inspection records do not surface a breakdown by state for 393.203(c) in the current data snapshot, so we cannot name specific states with citation counts here. What we can say is that the code has accumulated 10,792 all-time citations nationally, ranking #221 of 3,036 FMCSR codes, which means enforcement is broadly distributed across the country rather than concentrated in one region. The top-cited vehicle make is FRHT with 1,325 citations, followed by KW with 747 and PTRB with 555, suggesting this violation appears across all major commercial truck platforms in widespread use nationwide.

Fix it before your next trip, full stop — though the enforcement data does offer some perspective. The 0.5% OOS rate across 10,792 all-time citations means inspectors rarely shut down a truck for this alone. More telling: our database shows 0 citations in the last 90 days and 0 in the last 12 months, suggesting a current lull in active enforcement of this specific code. That does not reduce the safety risk — an unsecured hood can fly open at highway speed, blocking the windshield entirely. Repair the latch, verify it holds under road vibration, and treat it as a pre-trip checklist item going forward.

Both can be affected, but the weight falls primarily on the carrier. In FMCSA's CSA system, vehicle maintenance violations like 393.203(c) are scored under the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC, which is attributed to the motor carrier's DOT number. Our inspection records show that large carriers appear in the top citation list — including J B HUNT TRANSPORT INC (USDOT 80806) with 16 citations and UNITED PARCEL SERVICE INC (USDOT 21800) with 13 citations — indicating that fleet-level maintenance practices are the primary driver of accumulation. Drivers can also see the violation on their Pre-employment Screening Program (PSP) report, so it's not invisible to future employers reviewing your inspection history.