Historical textIn force on Sept. 30, 2002Source: annual CFR editions 1996–2004

§ 393.209 Steering wheel systems.

Wording first on file in the 1996 annual edition, superseded by the 2005 annual edition.

govinfo, 2001 edition ↗

Compare with

Before Jan. 1, 2017 the record is one snapshot per annual CFR edition, revised as of October 1. This is the 2001 edition's wording. An amendment that took effect between Oct. 1, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2002 would not appear until the next edition, so check the citations below and the Federal Register for exact effective dates.

49 CFR § 393.209 — Steering wheel systems.. Text in force on September 30, 2002. This wording effective October 1, 1996 to October 1, 2005. Source: govinfo, 2001 edition, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2001-title49-vol4/CFR-2001-title49-vol4-sec393-209. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/393.209?asof=2002-09-30, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

(a) The steering wheel shall be secured and must not have any spokes cracked through or missing.

(b) The steering wheel lash shall not exceed the following parameters:

Steering wheel diameter	Manual steering system	Power steering system
16″ or less	2″+	41/2″+
18″	21/4″+	43/4″+
20″	21/2″+	51/4″+
22″	23/4″+	53/4″+

(d) Steering system. Universal joints shall not be worn, faulty or repaired by welding. The steering gear box shall not have loose or missing mounting bolts or cracks in the gear box or mounting brackets. The pitman arm on the steering gear output shaft shall not be loose. Steering wheels shall turn freely through the limit of travel in both directions.

(e) Power steering systems. All components of the power system must be in operating condition. No parts shall be loose or broken. Belts shall not be frayed, cracked or slipping. The system shall not leak. The power steering system shall have sufficient fluid in the reservoir.

Amendment history

3 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996

Jan. 1, 2017 → presenteCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
[53 FR 49402, Dec. 7, 1988, as amended at 70 FR 48055, Aug. 15, 2005]
Oct. 1, 2005 → Jan. 1, 2017annual editions 2005–2016diff vs. previous
[53 FR 49402, Dec. 7, 1988, as amended at 70 FR 48055, Aug. 15, 2005]
Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 2005annual editions 1996–2004viewing

A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section.