29terms. Every one with its own page, examples, and links to where it shows up in your Verdict. A Verdict reads cleanly without this page — but if you want to know exactly what “Watching” means versus “Needs Attention,” or what a TSB is, or what repair-to-value math actually computes, this is the key.
The vehicle is in materially better shape than its peer cohort at this mileage. Documented mitigation, clean records, no active recalls or open complaints implicating its platform. The repair quote (if any) is consistent with routine maintenance, not a structural concern. Score range typically 85–100. Read the full definition
No active red flags. Platform shows typical mileage-band wear; documented maintenance suggests the vehicle has been cared for. Any open quote items are routine. The verdict is "keep it; do the work proposed; expect good service for years." Score range typically 70–84. Read the full definition
The vehicle is performing as expected for its platform and mileage band. Some maintenance items are due or coming due; no surprises. Customer should know what is next so it does not become urgent. Score range typically 55–69. Read the full definition
One or more items warrant attention — not necessarily action today, but a documented pattern that could become a repair within a defined window. The verdict surfaces what to watch and what would change it to a repair recommendation. Score range typically 45–54. Read the full definition
A documented failure mode or active concern is present. Repair cost is meaningful but recoverable; repair-to-value math favors fixing. The verdict surfaces probability ranking of root causes plus an honest cost spread (independent + dealer). Score range typically 30–44. Read the full definition
Score range 45–57. Multiple concerns or a high-cost-spread item. The Verdict argues for the repair only if certain conditions hold (diagnosis confirms cause, no scope creep, vehicle owner plans to keep 2+ years). The number where the math flips is explicit. Read the full definition
Score range 0–44. Substantial concerns where the repair cost approaches or exceeds the vehicle's residual value, or where multiple failure modes compound. The Verdict tells the customer the math flip-point in dollar terms and what additional information would change the recommendation. Read the full definition
VIN decoded cleanly, vehicle records or paperwork present, symptom description specific, NHTSA data fully retrieved, failure-mode pattern matches with high probability. The verdict can defend its score under scrutiny. Read the full definition
Most inputs are strong, but one is approximated (e.g. no shop quote provided, customer is pre-purchase). The verdict still defends well; specific caveats are surfaced. Read the full definition
Inputs are sufficient to land on a probability ranking, but not on a single confirmed cause. The verdict lists the top suspected causes with explicit % likelihoods + the diagnostic tells that would differentiate them. Read the full definition
The vehicle or platform is uncommon, or the symptom description is general, or NHTSA data was unavailable at run time. The verdict provides directional guidance; the customer should weigh it against an in-person inspection. Read the full definition
Pre-purchase mode or a quick triage. Useful to decide whether to walk away or escalate to a full inspection; not a substitute for one. Read the full definition
The free public API every Verdict uses to decode a VIN into 40+ structured fields — make, model, year, trim, engine code, transmission, drive type, plant, body class, restraint system, more. vPIC is the authoritative source for what a VIN actually represents. Read the full definition
A manufacturer-issued document that describes a known issue, the diagnostic procedure, and the recommended repair — without rising to a recall. TSBs are how manufacturers communicate to dealer service departments about emerging patterns. The Verdict cites TSBs by number so you (or your shop) can pull the full document. Read the full definition
NHTSA’s branch that investigates safety concerns reported by consumers. ODI complaints are the raw signal underneath any future recall. A high ODI-complaint count for a specific platform + symptom is a meaningful credibility input to a Verdict. Read the full definition
RecallManufacturer- or NHTSA-mandated free repair.
A safety-related defect that the manufacturer (or NHTSA) requires be repaired at no cost to the vehicle owner — for the life of the vehicle, regardless of mileage. The Verdict checks every customer’s VIN for open recalls and surfaces them. If your repair item is covered, the Verdict will say so. Read the full definition
A goodwill extension a manufacturer issues — often after a pattern of complaints — that covers specific repairs free of charge within mileage and time limits, but is not technically a recall. CSPs are easy to miss. The Verdict surfaces them. Read the full definition
Every Verdict carries a permanent audit_trail_id and an inputs_hash. Same inputs always produce the same Verdict, byte-for-byte. We can reproduce any score we have ever shipped on demand. This is the credibility moat — the Verdict is defensible, not a vibe. Read the full definition
Vehicles in the same band — e.g. 100k–125k mi on this platform — share a typical failure-pattern distribution. The Verdict places your vehicle in its band and weighs the failure modes documented for that cluster. Read the full definition
A statistical function used in reliability engineering to model the probability that a component fails as a function of age or use. The Verdict’s deterministic pipeline applies Weibull hazard math per system (engine, transmission, suspension, body, electrical) to convert mileage + platform into per-system failure probabilities. Read the full definition
A curated reference of failure modes covering the most common owner-impact issues across the platforms RepairVerdict supports — Subaru CVT shudder, Ford F-150 EcoBoost intake-valve carbon, Honda V6 timing-tensioner, GM AFM lifter, etc. Each pattern carries mileage band, symptom tells, repair cost range, and the diagnostic test that confirms or rules it out. Read the full definition
Coverage triageFree repair opportunities your shop will not always surface.
A required pipeline stage that checks for: open recalls, emissions warranty (8yr/80k for federal emissions components), powertrain extensions, customer-satisfaction programs, manufacturer goodwill, state lemon-law eligibility. If any apply, the Verdict says so plainly with the program name + how to claim. Read the full definition
The Verdict computes most-likely repair cost as a percentage of your vehicle’s trade-in and private-party values. Anything under 30% is "fix it" math. Anywhere from 30–50% the recommendation depends on intended ownership horizon. Above 50% the math typically favors trade. The number where it flips is always explicit. Read the full definition
Audit passAn independent 4-lens review of every draft.
After the engine writes its prose draft, four independent lenses re-read it: factual-grounding (do citations resolve?), anti-punt (any vague hedge?), mechanical reasoning (does the diagnostic chain hold up?), output discipline (does the prose stay in voice?). Findings drive a revisor pass. Cycles continue until findings drop below threshold or the cycle limit is hit. The audit log is preserved on the Verdict. Read the full definition
Mechanic terms
BorescopeA small camera that looks inside the cylinder.
A flexible camera passed through the spark-plug hole into the combustion chamber. Lets a mechanic see the top of the piston, the cylinder walls, and (with the intake removed) the back of the intake valves — without tearing the engine apart. Routinely the cheapest, fastest, most decisive diagnostic step on misfire / power-loss complaints. Read the full definition
Pressurized air is introduced into each cylinder at top-dead-center on the compression stroke. The percentage of air that escapes — and where — tells the mechanic whether the cylinder is sealing through the rings, the valves, or the head gasket. Sub-10% leakdown is excellent; >20% is significant. Read the full definition
A gauge replaces the spark plug and reads peak pressure during cranking. Variance between cylinders matters more than absolute number. A 20%+ delta between any two cylinders points to a sealing problem on the low cylinder. Read the full definition
A device that rotates the camshaft relative to the crankshaft in real time, used by every modern variable-valve-timing system. Failure modes include sticking, oil-pressure starvation, and noisy startup. Many modern engines list cam phaser repair as a routine wear item past 100k mi. Read the full definition
Modern injection design that bypasses the intake valves entirely. Better fuel atomization, better efficiency — but no fuel-wash on the back of the intake valves, so carbon accumulates over time. By 100k–150k mi, walnut-blast carbon cleaning is a typical service item on most DI engines. Read the full definition