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One year after statewide launch, BAR reports 195,000 VSSI certificates issued; 16% failure rate highlights recalls, lighting and brake issues
Summary
BAR reported that since consolidating Brake and Lamp into the Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection program, 517 VSSI stations have issued almost 195,000 certificates with a roughly 16% failure rate; the most common failures were open safety recalls, lighting problems and brake system defects.
The Bureau of Automotive Repair’s Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection (VSSI) program, which consolidated the prior Brake and Lamp programs, issued almost 195,000 certificates statewide in the year after full implementation, BAR officials told the Advisory Group on Oct. 29.
"We took a three‑phase approach," Clay Leake, deputy chief (Smoke Check Engineering and Information Services division), said, outlining licensing of stations and technicians beginning March 27, vehicle inspections beginning July 8, and the formal sunset of legacy programs on Sept. 27. "As of 09/28/2025, 517 VSSI stations … just over 23,000 inspections initiated, 195,000 certificates issued, almost 38,000 failed inspections, which comes right about to a 16% failure rate," Leake said.
BAR officials said the program reused SmogCheck's technology platform to automate certificate purchasing, station management, and digital authentication — including biometric enrollment (palm‑vein) and a centralized inspection software client — and that the consolidated program gives BAR visibility into inspection results for the first time.
Most common failures and program lessons
BAR said the most frequent failure reasons are open safety recalls, followed by lighting system defects and brake system issues. SRS (airbag) warnings, cracked windshields and tires/wheels (worn tires, TPMS warnings) were also common failure causes.
Leake said BAR learned from prior, large IT deployments and that reusing the SmogCheck platform saved development time. He also said BAR would continue to refine cross references in regulations, develop an exceptions process for unusual cases (two exceptions used so far for parts availability and regionally limited recalls), and focus on program area coverage in remote parts of the state.
Industry requests and next steps
Advisory group members asked staff for reinspection and repair‑and‑retest statistics for failed inspections; Leake said BAR would prepare that data for follow‑up. Several members urged BAR to incorporate ADAS (advanced driver‑assistance systems) checks into the program once data standards and tools are mature; staff said ADAS standardization remains a barrier but that inclusion is a likely next step.
Closing resources
Leake pointed attendees to the VSSI program pages on the bureau’s website, which include licensing steps, the VSSI inspection manual, equipment checklists and tutorials. BAR said the program will continue to evolve and encouraged technicians and stations to review online resources and to contact BAR for guidance.
