FMCSR 393.209A: Cracked or Broken Wheel/Rim Q&A

Yes, in the majority of cases. Across our inspection records, 393.209A violations resulted in an out-of-service placement 87.5% of the time (42 out of 48 all-time citations). This rate is significantly higher than the national average OOS rate of 31.4% across all FMCSR codes. When an inspector finds a cracked or broken wheel or rim, they're likely to ground your vehicle until it's repaired.

This violation carries a CSA severity weight of 7 points. The actual impact on your profile depends on when the violation occurred and how it combines with other citations in a rolling 12-month window. Points accumulate and decay over time under FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) system, which uses a 34-month looking window for the most severe violations.

First, have the wheel or rim repaired before operating the vehicle if it's been placed out of service. Our data shows that in the last 90 days, 393.209A frequently appears alongside brake and steering issues (3 shared inspections each with defective slack adjusters and worn steering components). Request a full brake and steering inspection to catch related problems early. Get written proof of all repairs and retain documentation for at least one year in case of audit.

Yes. While 393.209A ranks #1651 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by total citation volume (48 all-time), its out-of-service rate of 87.5% is far more severe than similar vehicle maintenance violations. For example, inoperable required lamps (393.9) has a 15.4% OOS rate, and defective slack adjusters (393.47E) have a 0.0% OOS rate. The high OOS rate reflects that broken wheels pose direct safety risks.

Yes, you can submit a DataQs (Data Quality System) challenge through the FMCSA portal if you believe the inspection finding was inaccurate or incorrectly documented. Equipment-based violations like cracked wheels are more straightforward to contest if the inspector's notation was unclear or if you have photos or repair invoices proving the wheel was serviceable at the time of inspection. Gather your evidence before filing.

In the last 180 days, Texas leads with 9 citations (77.8% OOS rate) and Illinois follows with 2 citations (100.0% OOS rate). These two states account for all recent enforcement in our dataset. Texas's slightly lower OOS percentage may reflect varied inspector discretion, but both states show high severity in the majority of cases.

Extremely urgent. The data indicates 87.5% of 393.209A violations result in immediate out-of-service placement, meaning you cannot legally operate until repaired. Over the last 90 days, we've seen 3 citations, showing steady enforcement. In June alone, we recorded 6 citations in one month. Do not delay repairs—operating an OOS vehicle exposes you to additional federal penalties and endangers other road users.

Both. Under FMCSA's CSA system, vehicle maintenance violations flow to both the driver's profile (in the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC) and the carrier's profile (also Vehicle Maintenance BASIC). If you're an independent operator or lease driver, the violation may weigh more heavily depending on how your safety agreement is structured. Work with your carrier's safety team to ensure the citation is recorded accurately.