Do brake caliper replacement problems track annual snowfall across states?

Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about brake caliper replacement run higher where annual snowfall is higher, after adjusting for the makes sold in each state. This is an association across states, not proof that annual snowfall causes this repair.

How to read it: Each dot is a state. Further right means more annual snowfall (inches); higher up means more complaints for this repair than expected (1.0 is average). If the dots climb to the right, reports of this repair rise with annual snowfall (inches).

What it shows: States with more annual snowfall (inches) tend to sit higher on the chart across 24 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.

• The 8 states with the most annual snowfall (New York, Michigan, Colorado, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey): reports of this repair run 37% above what the makes sold there would predict, and 6 of 8 are above expected. The 8 with the least (California, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina): 11% below, and 2 of 8 are above expected.
• Exceptions: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are among the highest in annual snowfall but report below expected; South Carolina (47% above expected) is among the lowest but above expected.
• Split the states into thirds: the third with the least annual snowfall runs 11% below what the makes sold there would predict, the middle third 11% above, and the third with the most 37% above. It steps up steadily.
• For annual snowfall, after allowing for the 1562 comparisons we ran, luck alone would produce a pattern this strong about 1 time in 28. Take out any single state and the annual snowfall pattern still holds.
• Weak spot: compare only states with similar very hot days and the pattern keeps about 54% of its strength, so part of it may come from very hot days instead of annual snowfall.
• For annual snowfall, of the 3 exception states, 1 read the same way for the other parts of the system (so that is the system there, not this repair) and 2 are specific to this repair.

Road salt and slush corrode exposed metal and seize moving parts, and freezing weather stiffens rubber, so repairs to exposed parts can follow harsh winters.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, joined to NHTSA owner complaints · file downloaded 2026-10-06