Enhanced Search Instructions
The VSIRC Enhanced Search is designed to give advanced users a wider range of options for their search construction. Unlike the Basic Search, which provides different interfaces for each of the four main components, the Enhanced Search provides different interfaces for different datasets – Complaints, Recalls, Investigations, and Crash / Compliance Tests – and each dataset must be searched separately.
At the top of all Enhanced Search screens there is the option to choose one of the four main components. That choice will generate the appropriate manufacturers and, when appropriate, makes and/or models. For example, selecting child restraint will produce a list of child restraint manufacturers, while selecting tire will produce two lists – tire manufacturers and tire makes – that must be used separately.
In addition to the make and model options which are the same as those found in Basic Search, the ability to search by Manufacturer is added. Selecting a manufacturer allows searches across all of the makes and models. This allows broader searches, for example, all GM airbag recalls will include airbag recalls for all of the GM makes like Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Saab, etc.
To select multiple manufacturers, makes, or models, depress CTRL and click on your selections. Hold the Shift key while selecting two entries to select those and all entries between.
Selecting or entering values in multiple fields in the Enhanced Search will produce records meeting all of those requirements.
What follows is a brief explanation of the fields unique to the Enhanced Search, broken down by dataset.Injured, Fatality, Crash, Fire checkboxes allow users to limit results to complaints associated with one or more injuries or fatalities, or those involving crashes or fires. (Note: Selecting these checkboxes draws on the original data coding from NHTSA – there is no additional search intelligence that captures those incidents in which NHTSA failed to appropriately code these using the checkboxes.) Complaint results include icons for quick identification of fires, injuries, deaths and crashes.
Year Range allows searches to be limited to a range of vehicle model years.
Components pull-downs are simplified lists of component areas based on a condensed and cleaned version of the NHTSA coding. There are two levels of components – selecting a component in the first box will generate a secondary subcategory of components of which any one or combinations can be selected. Combinations of components and subcomponents can be selected by depressing CTRL and clicking on the desired selections.
Date Added refers to the date the record was added to the NHTSA dataset. This allows users to update previously-run searches by running them again but displaying only recently added results. This field also allows users to search for specific issues before or after related events (i.e., search for complaints related to an issue before or after a recall campaign was launched).
ODI ID # allows searches by the unique identifier assigned to a particular complaint. Note that this number may be associated with multiple records, but all associated records relate to the same complaint.
RecallsIn addition to the Manufacturer, Make, Model, Year Ranges and Components, the Recalls dataset can be searched by the following fields:
Regulation Part # refers to the part of the Code of Federal Regulations related to the recall. For example part 571 or Part 575.
FMVSS field allows users to search for recalls conducted due to non-compliance with particular Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. For example, 301 will retrieve all recalls related to a violation of FMVSS 301 Fuel System Integrity.
NHTSA Campaign # allows searches by the unique number assigned to a recall campaign by NHTSA. Use this to search for a specific recall when this number is known.
Mfg. Campaign # refers to the unique number assigned to a recall by the manufacturer conducting the recall. Use this to search for a specific recall when this number is known.
The Recall Date refers to the date NHTSA received the defect report from the manufacturer notifying them of the defect. This allows users to update previously-run searches by running them again but displaying only recently added results. This field also allows users to search for recalls reported before or on specific dates.
InvestigationsIn addition to the Manufacturer, Make, Model, Year Ranges and Components, the Investigations dataset can be searched by the following fields
Investigation # allows searches by the unique number assigned to an investigation by NHTSA. Use this to search for a specific recall when this number is known.
Associated Campaign # refers to a NHTSA recall campaign associated with a particular investigation. Use this field to determine if a particular recall was associated with a defect investigation.
Date Opened refers to the date a particular investigation was opened. This allows users to update previously-run searches by running them again but displaying only recently added results. This field also allows users to search for investigations opened before or on specific dates.
Crash / Compliance TestsIn addition to the Manufacturer, Make, Model, Year Ranges, the Investigations dataset can be searched by the following fields:
Test Type refers to the type of test conducted. The field contains a drop down menu of test types coded by NHTSA, and their brief descriptions. Use this field to search for all tests related to a particular FMVSS, all New Car Assessment Program tests, or other broad categories.
Test Config refers to the test configuration. The field contains a drop down menu of test configurations coded by NHTSA.
Impact Angle is defined by NHTSA as “the angle of contact between the travel vector of the test device and the plane tangent to the component at the impact point. A perpendicular impact is defined as 0 degrees, which is also the reference line for the measurement. This data applies to dynamic tests only.” Impact angles can have values ranging from 0 to 359. VSIRC has mapped these to more commonly-used categories – Frontal Impact, Side Impact, and Rear Impact. Crashes run at 330 to 30 degrees – in other words, 30 degrees to the right or left of the font of the vehicle are mapped to the Frontal category. 31 to 50 and 211 to 329 degrees are side impacts (left and right respectively) and 150 to 210 are rear impacts.
Test Date refers to the date on which the test was conducted. This allows users to update previously-run searches by running them again but displaying only recently added results. This field also allows users to search for crash / compliance tests conducted before or on specific dates.
Closing Speed allows users to search for tests conducted at a particular speed. Speeds are measured in kilometers per hour.
