Will 393.50C put your truck out of service? What are the CSA points? Get direct answers backed by 13M+ inspection records.
Ranks #821 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 0.0% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
No means to ensure operable check valve
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. Across our inspection records, 393.50C has never resulted in an out-of-service order—the OOS rate is 0.0% all-time. Of the 712 citations for defective steering mechanisms in our database, all 712 were issued without removing the vehicle from service.
This stands in sharp contrast to the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, making steering defects a citation-only violation in practice.
This violation carries a CSA severity weight of 8 points. The actual 30-day impact on your safety score depends on whether you receive additional citations within the same month and on your carrier's overall violation history.
For context, severity weight is one input into your BASIC scores; the FMCSA's Safety Management Cycle applies multipliers based on inspection frequency and your carrier's performance.
In relative terms, no. The 0.0% out-of-service rate makes 393.50C significantly less severe than most vehicle maintenance codes. Compare:
However, a defective steering mechanism is a safety hazard. The fact that it's not an automatic out-of-service condition does not mean repair can be delayed—unsafe steering affects vehicle control.
Yes, any FMCSR citation is contestable through the DataQs Roadside Data Recapture (RDR) process. However, your success depends on the type of dispute:
File your challenge through your carrier's FMCSA account within the DataQs portal with photos and repair records if available.
Over the last 180 days, Texas dominates the data: 227 citations for defective steering mechanisms, all with a 0.0% out-of-service rate. Our inspection records show Texas as the only state in the top-three by citation volume for this code.
This likely reflects higher inspection frequency in the Lone Star State combined with a large population of commercial vehicles. Cross-border carrier fleets in Texas show elevated steering defect citation counts.
Very urgent—even though it won't trigger an out-of-service order. In the last 90 days, we recorded 112 citations for steering defects. Monthly citations remain steady (around 37–56 per month) with no downward trend, indicating inspectors are actively catching these violations.
More importantly, a steering mechanism defect directly impacts vehicle safety and control. Delaying repair risks accident, injury, and secondary violations. Schedule repair within 24–48 hours. Extended operation with defective steering may also invite a follow-up inspection and citation.
Both. FMCSR violations appear in two CSA BASIC categories: Vehicle Maintenance (carrier-level) and Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) (driver-level, if applicable). A steering mechanism defect is logged as a vehicle maintenance violation, which affects your carrier's Maintenance BASIC score primarily.
If the defect was found during a pre-trip inspection you should have caught, it may also impact your carrier's perception of your inspection skills. Either way, the citation is part of your official safety record and theirs.
Where 393.50C is most commonly cited (last 180 days)
Other violations commonly found on the same inspection (last 90 days)
TruckCodex aggregates official public-sector datasets. See the Source registry for dataset-level coverage and the Freshness log for last-import timestamps.
Census, SAFER, SMS, Licensing & Insurance (L&I), roadside inspections, crashes, and authority history.
Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).
Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.
TruckCodex is an independent aggregator; it is not affiliated with FMCSA, NHTSA, EIA, or Transport Canada. Always verify compliance-critical information directly with the originating agency.