Motor Vehicle Division Vehicle Inspection Standards 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A vehicle's seat belt pretensioner has been deployed after a minor collision. The belt still latches. Does it pass inspection?
- Yes, if it still buckles and the webbing is intact
- No, a deployed pretensioner must be replaced before passing (Correct answer)
- Yes, unless the airbag also deployed
- No, only if the belt shows physical fraying
Correct answer: No, a deployed pretensioner must be replaced before passing
A deployed pretensioner is a single-use device and no longer provides the designed restraint force; it must be replaced even if the belt appears functional.
Question 2: When checking headlight aim during inspection, which problem would cause a failure?
- Headlights aimed slightly higher than factory spec to improve road visibility
- Headlights aimed so high they would blind oncoming drivers (Correct answer)
- Headlights with a slightly warm color temperature
- Headlights that take 2 seconds to reach full brightness
Correct answer: Headlights aimed so high they would blind oncoming drivers
Headlights aimed too high create a glare hazard for oncoming traffic and are a safety violation causing inspection failure.
Question 3: Which of the following window tint situations would cause a vehicle to fail a safety inspection in most US states?
- Tint on rear side windows below 35% VLT
- Tint on the front windshield below the AS-1 line
- Tint on the front side windows below the legal limit for that state (Correct answer)
- Any aftermarket tint on any window
Correct answer: Tint on the front side windows below the legal limit for that state
Front side windows must meet the state's minimum visible light transmission (VLT) requirement; tint darker than the legal limit causes a failure.
Question 4: An inspector finds that a vehicle's rear reflectors are faded and no longer reflective. What is the correct outcome?
- Pass with an advisory to replace reflectors
- Fail because reflectors are required safety equipment (Correct answer)
- Pass if the taillights are functioning correctly
- Fail only if the vehicle was manufactured after 1990
Correct answer: Fail because reflectors are required safety equipment
Rear reflectors are required safety equipment that allows other drivers to see the vehicle in low-light conditions without headlights; non-functional reflectors cause a failure.
Question 5: During inspection, a technician performs a bounce test on the front of a vehicle and the car continues to oscillate more than twice. What does this indicate?
- Overinflated tires
- Worn or failed shock absorbers or struts (Correct answer)
- Excessive vehicle weight
- Loose wheel bearings
Correct answer: Worn or failed shock absorbers or struts
A vehicle that oscillates more than 1-2 times after a bounce test indicates worn shocks or struts that can no longer dampen suspension movement effectively.
Question 6: Which condition regarding a vehicle's battery would typically cause a safety inspection failure?
- A battery more than 3 years old
- Loose or severely corroded battery terminals that affect electrical system operation (Correct answer)
- A battery not made by the original manufacturer
- A battery with less than 80% of original cold cranking amps
Correct answer: Loose or severely corroded battery terminals that affect electrical system operation
Severely corroded or loose battery terminals that interfere with the electrical system's operation are a safety concern that causes an inspection failure.
Question 7: A vehicle has an aftermarket LED conversion kit installed in housings designed for halogen bulbs. Why might this fail inspection?
- LEDs are not legal for road use in the US
- The housing optics are designed for halogen and may create dangerous glare with LEDs (Correct answer)
- LEDs are too bright and always exceed legal limits
- Aftermarket parts always cause inspection failure
Correct answer: The housing optics are designed for halogen and may create dangerous glare with LEDs
Projector or reflector housings designed for halogen bulbs do not properly focus LED light output, often creating uncontrolled glare that can blind other drivers.
Motor Vehicle Division Vehicle Inspection Standards 4
A vehicle's seat belt pretensioner has been deployed after a minor collision.
The belt still latches.
Does it pass inspection?