What is a technical service bulletin (TSB)?
A manufacturer's repair instruction to dealers for a known problem. It is not a recall: the repair is usually not free once the warranty has ended.
Manufacturers must send NHTSA copies of their communications to dealers and owners about defects and repairs (49 CFR 579.5), and NHTSA publishes them with the vehicle's records. A TSB can come before a recall if a problem later proves to be a safety defect.
Sources
Related terms
- Recall remedyThe fix a manufacturer must provide free of charge for a safety recall: repair, replacement, or a refund of the purchase price less reasonable depreciation.
- FMVSSFederal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards: the minimum safety performance rules in 49 CFR Part 571 that vehicles and equipment sold in the US must meet.