FMCSR 393.51(d): Excessive Steering Wheel Free Play Q&A

No. Across our inspection records, 393.51(d) citations have never resulted in an out-of-service placement—the OOS rate is 0.0%. This violation is not OOS-eligible under FMCSA rules, meaning an inspector cannot immediately ground your truck for excessive steering wheel free play. However, the defect still must be corrected before your next inspection cycle.

A 393.51(d) citation carries a CSA severity weight of 6. This weight is applied to your carrier's Unsafe Driving BASIC (or the appropriate vehicle maintenance category) within the CSA system. The actual points added to your carrier's score depend on the 30-day accumulation rule—if your carrier receives multiple citations in a 30-day window, they may be counted as a single violation. Check your inspection report for the exact point impact on your record.

1. Get the repair work done immediately. Excessive steering wheel free play affects vehicle control and safety. 2. Document the repair. Keep receipts and work orders from a certified mechanic. 3. Notify your fleet manager. Ensure the defect is logged in your vehicle maintenance records. 4. Request a follow-up inspection once repaired to confirm compliance. 5. Consider challenging the citation through DataQs if you believe the measurement was incorrect—equipment-based findings like steering play can be contested if the inspector's procedure was flawed.

393.51(d) is less serious than many peer violations. Across our 13 million inspection records, the national average OOS rate for vehicle maintenance codes is 31.4%. In contrast, 393.51(d) has a 0.0% OOS rate. For comparison, Slack adjuster defects (393.47E) also have 0.0% OOS, but Inoperable Required Lamps (393.9) have a 6.9% OOS rate. Your violation is citation-eligible but lower risk than defects that trigger roadside enforcement action.

Yes, you can contest any roadside inspection finding through FMCSA's DataQs system within 90 days of the citation. Since 393.51(d) is an equipment-based measurement (steering wheel free play), your challenge should focus on whether the inspector followed proper measurement protocol—wheel position, vehicle load, steering system type, and gauge calibration. Document the inspection conditions and any evidence that the measurement was inaccurate. Submit your evidence and written dispute through DataQs on the FMCSA website.

Very rare. Our database shows only 2 all-time citations for 393.51(d) across 13 million inspections, with zero citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. This ranks 393.51(d) at #2651 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. This suggests inspectors rarely flag this violation on the road, likely because most steering systems are either within tolerance or fail on more critical defects first.

Our all-time records show only two carriers cited for this violation: Transportadora Norte de Chihuahua S A de C V (USDOT 711125) with 1 citation, and Jorge Humberto Maldonado Gonzalez (USDOT 2981915) with 1 citation. The two vehicles cited were a Kenworth and a Volvo. The extremely low citation count reflects the rarity of this violation being enforced.

Fix it soon, but it is not an emergency shutdown. Although 393.51(d) is not OOS-eligible, excessive steering free play degrades vehicle control and safety—this is a genuine mechanical defect that will affect handling and driver safety. Zero citations in the last 90 days suggests enforcement is infrequent, but the defect itself matters for safe operation. Schedule a mechanic visit within 1–2 weeks to measure and adjust the steering system per manufacturer specifications.