myCarStats site glossary
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Air Conditioner	A compressor circulates a liquid from an evaporator, through a condenser and expansion valve, right back to the evaporator. Sometimes we worry when we catch our car making a water puddle on the ground, but are relieved to discover that it's only water dripping from the air conditioning system's condenser (no color, no smell, and it dries!).
Brakes	The brake system is composed of the "master cylinder," brake pedal, steel "brake lines" and flexible "brake hoses". Brake fluid fills the system.
Complaint	You can lodge a complaint about your car with NHTSA.  If the agency receives similar reports from a number of people, this frequently indicates that a safety-related defect may exist which warrants investigation.
Component	The fourteen components are steering, suspension, brakes, parking brake, engine, fuel, power train, electrical, lighting, visual, heater/air conditioner, interior, structure, and equipment.
Custom Report	By selecting components from MyCarStats Detail Report for a specific year, make, and model, you can create and print a report listing only those items you choose.
Detail Report	By selecting the component (fourteen components; steering, suspension, brakes, parking brake, engine, fuel, power train, electrical, lighting, visual, heater/air conditioner, interior, structure, and equipment) you are interested in from MyCarStats Expanded Stats, you will see the text detail for that component for that specific year, make, and model.
Electrical System	The electrical system is composed of the battery, starter motor, alternator, voltage regulator, and the fuse box.
Emergency Parking Brake	The parking brake (sometimes called the emergency brake) is a cable-activated system used to hold the brakes continuously in the applied position.
Emissions Control	The emission control system controls the emissions and exhaust from your vehicle.
Engine	The engine is the heart of the automobile. It converts fuel into the energy that powers the automobile. To operate, it requires clean air for the fuel, water for cooling, electricity (which it generates) for igniting the fuel, and oil for lubrication. A battery and electric starter get it going.
Engine Cooling System	The purpose of the engine's cooling system is to remove excess heat from the engine, to keep the engine operating at its most efficient temperature, and to get the engine up to the correct temperature as soon as possible after starting.
Equipment	Examples of equipment Issues include, but are not limited to; inoperative remote keyless entry transmitter, the radio delivers cross talk in metropolitan areas, or availability of retro-fit internal trunk release kits.
Exhaust	Exhaust gases leave the engine under extremely high pressure. The exhaust manifold sends the gases through the muffler, and out of the tail pipe.
Expanded Stats by Component	By selecting Bulletins, Recalls, Investigations, or Complaints from MyCarStats Expanded Stats for a specific year, make, and model, you can see the total broken down into fourteen categories; steering, suspension, brakes, parking brake, engine, fuel, power train, electrical, lighting, visual, heater/air conditioner, interior, structure, and equipment.
Fuel	Major parts of the system include: fuel tank and cap, emission controls, fuel line, fuel pump, fuel filter, carburetor, and intake manifold as well as the fuel gauge.
Heater	The heater core provides heat to the passenger cabin, sort of a secondary radiator, which is part of the car's cooling system.
Interior Systems	Major automotive interior systems include seats, headliners, instrument panels, door panels, floor consoles and on-board electronics
Investigations	After reviewing consumer complaints, if the Trend and Analysis Division of The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes that the available information indicates that a safety-related trend or catastrophic failure is developing, the appropriate investigative division is notified.  If the data developed indicates that a safety-related defect exists, a Recall Request Letter may be sent to the manufacturer.
Lighting & Communication	The automobile lighting circuit includes the wiring harness, all the lights, and the various switches that control their use. The car horn on passenger cars provides the driver with a means of sounding an audible warning signal. The horn electrical circuit generally includes: battery, fuse or fusible link, horn relay, horn(s), steering column wiring harness, horn switch, and body sheet metal.
NHTSA	The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is part of the U. S. Department of Transportation.  NHTSA functions as both an information source and investigates safety defects in motor vehicles.
Power Train	Also referred to as the Drive Train. Those components that power the car including the engine, drive shaft, transmission and drive axle.
Recall*	Automobile manufacturers issue Official Safety Recall Notices to inform vehicle owners of car defects that have come to the manufacturer’s attention.
Report Types	Include Bulletins, Recalls, Investigations, or Complaints
Service Bulletin	A Service Bulletin, also know as a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB), is an advisory issued by the manufacturer to help automotive technicians diagnose and repair problems reported by consumers and dealership service departments.  TSBs contain up-to-date factory fixes for difficult to diagnose problems such as rough idles, intermittent stalls, hard starts, and all kinds of “shakes”, “rattles” and “clunks” that can sometimes drive you nuts.
Steering	Two of the most common steering mechanisms are the "rack and pinion" and the standard (or recirculating-ball) systems, that can be either manual or assisted by power. "Power steering" is really "power assisted steering."
Structure	A conventional frame is basically a "one-piece" frame, or two "one-piece" frames fastened together. The frame is extremely rigid in order to keep all the other parts of the car in perfect alignment. To keep things smooth, rubber insulator blocks, or "pads" are placed between the frame and the other car parts.
Summary Stats	MyCarStats lists the number of Bulletins, Recalls, Investigations, and Complaints by year, make, and model.
Suspension	Refers to the use of front and rear springs to suspend a vehicle's "sprung" weight. The springs used on today's cars and trucks are constructed in a variety of types; leaf springs, coil springs, air springs, and torsion bars. The suspension system also includes shocks and/or struts, and sway bars
Tires	Car tires are more than just cushions for the wheels. They also give the car a good grip on slippery roads and keep it from sliding about when braking and cornering. The tread patterns running all around the tire have thin cuts in the rubber to sponge up surface water, and zigzag channels to pump the water out behind as the car rolls forward.
Ventilation	Today, other than through windows, there is only one way for fresh air to enter your car--through the auto ventilation system, which includes the auto air conditioner.  All the air that enters your car flows through the evaporator. When you run your ventilation system either for heating or cooling in your car or truck, air passes through the evaporator core.
Visual Systems	Visual systems include glass, windshield, windshield wipers, rearview and exterior mirrors.
Wheels  [Top of Page]	Road wheels support the vehicle's tire as the car rolls down the road. They must be able to withstand the considerable loads generated from acceleration, braking and cornering. Many regular passenger cars use steel wheels. The two basic parts of a wheel are the "spider," or the centersection that bolts to the vehicle's brake drum or rotor, and the rim -- the outer lips that contact and contain the tire beads. Most modern wheels add a safety ridge, which are small lips that keep the tire on the rim in the event of a flat or a blowout.