FMCSR 393.207(d) – Cracked/Broken Coil Spring: Q&A

Yes—there's a significant chance. Across our inspection records, trucks cited for 393.207(d) were placed out of service in 75.7% of cases. That's 2.4 times higher than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, meaning inspectors treat cracked or broken coil springs as serious structural defects. If you've just been cited, prepare for a likely out-of-service order and immediate repair requirement.

Yes, significantly. Among peer codes in the Vehicle Maintenance category, 393.207(d) has the second-highest OOS rate at 75.7%—only behind general inspection/repair/maintenance violations at 45.3%. For comparison, inoperable lamp citations (393.9) have a 6.9% OOS rate, and windshield defects (393.78) are out-of-service in just 0.3% of cases. The data shows inspectors view suspension integrity as critical to roadworthiness.

1. Stop operation immediately if your truck was placed out-of-service—do not move the vehicle.
2. Document the defect with photos for your own records and any DataQs challenge.
3. Contact a repair facility certified in suspension work; coil spring damage requires professional replacement.
4. Retain all repair receipts with dates and part numbers as proof of correction.
5. Request a post-repair inspection from a CVSA-certified inspector before returning to service.
6. Report the repair to your carrier/safety manager to update your maintenance records.

The citation itself carries severity weight based on FMCSA's Safety Event severity scale, but exact CSA point totals depend on your current BASIC category levels and the 30-day citation count window. Our records show 393.207(d) citations are relatively rare—only 37 all-time and zero in the last 90 days—so the citation will affect your Mechanical BASIC, but the impact will depend on how many other mechanical violations you've accumulated in the past 30 days.

Very uncommon. Across 13 million+ roadside inspections in our database, 393.207(d) accounts for just 37 all-time citations, ranking it #1717 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by enforcement volume. More tellingly: zero citations in the last 90 days and zero in the last 12 months. This suggests coil spring defects are either rare in the field or inspectors rarely flag them—either way, if you've been cited, your vehicle likely had a visible, severe fracture.

Yes. The DataQs (Inquiry System for FMCSA's Safety Management System) allows drivers and carriers to contest roadside inspection records. For a coil spring defect, success depends on whether you can document that:

• The defect was not present at the time of inspection
• The inspection was performed improperly
• The citation code is factually incorrect

Physical equipment defects are harder to dispute than documentation errors, but if the inspector's finding was photographed incorrectly or applied to the wrong component, DataQs challenge may succeed. Work with your carrier's safety team to file within the required window.

Freightliners (FRHT) account for 6 of the 37 all-time citations—the highest among any make. Kenworth (KW), Volvo (GDAN), Ford, and Western Star (WANC) each have 2 citations. The remaining 18 citations are split among eight other makes. Because the total citation volume is low, no single pattern emerges, but heavy-duty tractors (Freightliner, Kenworth, Volvo) represent the majority of cases, which aligns with their prevalence in long-haul fleets.

Immediate. The 75.7% out-of-service rate means most drivers are prohibited from operating until the spring is replaced. Coil springs are load-bearing components critical to vehicle stability and braking performance; a cracked or broken spring can cause uneven weight distribution, reduced handling control, and increased stopping distance. Federal regulations treat this as a safety defect, not a deferrable repair. Once cited, your truck typically cannot legally move until the repair is complete and inspected.