Violation codes / 396.17C

396.17C

What the rule actually says

This violation cites 49 CFR 396.17, periodic inspection. The regulation reads:

(a) Every commercial motor vehicle must be inspected as required by this section. The inspection must include, at a minimum, the parts and accessories set forth in appendix A to this part. The term commercial motor vehicle includes each vehicle in a combination vehicle. For example, for a tractor semitrailer, full trailer combination, the tractor, semitrailer, and the full trailer (including the converter dolly if so equipped) must each be inspected.

(b) Except as provided in § 396.23 and this paragraph, motor carriers must inspect or cause to be inspected all motor vehicles subject to their control. Intermodal eq…

The section continues.

49 CFR 396.17, Periodic inspection. Read the full section on eCFR

Quoted verbatim from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Nothing here is a paraphrase, and nothing here is legal advice on a citation.

How often this comes up

This violation was recorded 203,260 times across the roadside inspections in the FMCSA file, making it the 7th most frequently cited code. Whether a given instance puts a vehicle or driver out of service is decided at the roadside by the inspector, not by the code itself, so the same violation can end a trip or simply be noted.

It sits under 49 CFR Part 396, which covers inspection, repair and maintenance. To see it in context, look up a carrier and read its inspection history: the same code appearing repeatedly is a different signal from a single occurrence.

Look up a carrier's inspection record

Other inspection, repair and maintenance violations

• 396.17C-PI Operating a CMV without documentation of a p…
• 396.3A1 Inspection, repair and maintenance of parts …
• 396.5B-L Lubrication - Oil or grease leak
• 396.5B Oil and/or grease leak
• 396.3A1-BOS Brake - Defective brake(s) are equal to or g…
• 396.3A1BOS BRAKES OUT OF SERVICE: The number of defecti…
• 396.3A1-BALAC Brake - Audible air leak from a brake chambe…
• 396.3A1B Brakes (general) Explain:
• 396.9D2-FTF Failing to correct the violation(s)/defect(s…
• 396.3A1-ALBV Air Brake - Any leak from a brake valve
• 396.5B-HWSL Hubs - Wheel seal leaking
• 396.3A1BL Brake system pressure loss

Counts are from the FMCSA Inspections and Violations file via data.transportation.gov. This describes how the violation is recorded, and is not legal advice on a citation.