Do drivetrain problems track chloride in rain and snow, kg per hectare per year across states?
Drivetrain problem complaints run slightly higher where chloride in rain and snow is higherNHTSA owner complaints about drivetrain problems run 0% below what the makes sold there would predict in the 10 states with the highest chloride in rain and snow, and 4% below in the 10 with the lowest.
What it shows: States with more chloride in rain and snow, kg per hectare per year (nadp 2019-2023, state median county) tend to sit higher on the chart across 48 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
Data: NADP National Trends Network wet deposition grids, joined to NHTSA owner complaints, downloaded 2026-10-12 · 48 states. Chart: CalcScrape · calcscrape.com
A moderate pattern, probably real but not certain: about 1 in 11 patterns this clear turn out to be false alarms. Weak spot: hold annual precipitation equal and the chloride in rain and snow pattern disappears, so it may be mostly that factor.