DOT violations › 396.3
FMCSA Violation 396.3: Inspection, repair, and maintenance — parts and accessories
A broad maintenance citation for parts and accessories not in safe operating condition. Often signals deferred maintenance.
Last updated: June 2026 · Data sources: NHTSA vPIC (live) and FMCSA public inspection records (periodic refresh).
Quick answer
FMCSA roadside violation 396.3 (inspection, repair, and maintenance — parts and accessories) is a other citation that can result in an out-of-service order depending on severity. On a used truck, a past 396.3 citation does not prove a current defect — it tells you exactly what to verify before you buy. If the VIN appears in FMCSA roadside records, TruckWhere shows whether it has this or other violations.
Free FMCSA roadside summary. We accept exact 17-character VINs only and never silently correct a VIN.
Is 396.3 serious?
This is a Other violation. It can result in an out-of-service order depending on severity. An out-of-service order means the vehicle could not continue until the condition was corrected at that time — it does not prove the defect remains today.
What a buyer should ask the seller
Ask to see the maintenance records and whether the unit follows a PM schedule.
What a mechanic should inspect
Review maintenance history; inspect for general deferred-maintenance indicators.
How 396.3 appears in a TruckWhere report
In a TruckWhere DOT Buyer Report, a 396.3 citation shows up in the roadside timeline with its date, state, unit attribution, out-of-service status, and a plain-English explanation — plus a Other entry in repeated-system detection if it occurred more than once.
Check a VIN for 396.3 →Related other violations
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Frequently asked questions
- What does FMCSA violation 396.3 mean?
- A broad maintenance citation for parts and accessories not in safe operating condition. Often signals deferred maintenance. It can result in an out-of-service order depending on severity.
- Is violation 396.3 serious?
- It is a other citation that can result in an out-of-service order depending on severity. Historical violations do not prove a current defect, but they tell you exactly what to verify before buying.
- Can I check if a truck's VIN has violation 396.3?
- Yes — if the VIN appears in FMCSA roadside records, TruckWhere shows its violations (including codes like 396.3), out-of-service events, and the inspection timeline for that exact VIN.