Do differential repair problems track annual snowfall across states?

Differential repair complaints run higher where annual snowfall is higherNHTSA owner complaints about differential repair run 32% above what the makes sold there would predict in the 8 states with the highest annual snowfall, and 18% below in the 8 with the lowest.

Annual snowfall (inches)

Complaints against what the makes sold would predict (1.0× = expected)

left map: lower to higherright map: green fewer complaints than expected, red morefurthest from the pattern: AZ, CT, KY, MN, NJ, PA, TN, VAfewer than 10 complaints

This describes states, not any one car, and it does not show that the left measure produces the right one.

Every state with 10 or more complaints, most over-reported first: state, annual snowfall (inches), complaints against expected, complaints filed.

CT 39 · 1.75× · 19
MN 47 · 1.69× · 21
KY 8 · 1.51× · 18
NJ 24 · 1.48× · 41
NY 72 · 1.34× · 62
WI 48 · 1.33× · 20
CO 49 · 1.30× · 23
MI 66 · 1.25× · 44
VA 12 · 1.25× · 37
MA 49 · 1.23× · 25
WA 14 · 1.19× · 24
OH 23 · 1.12× · 38
NC 3 · 1.06× · 33
OR 5 · 1.05× · 10
IN 20 · 1.04× · 17
MD 17 · 1.04× · 23
IL 20 · 1.03× · 33
PA 36 · 0.95× · 34
SC 1 · 0.92× · 15
TX 0 · 0.85× · 71
MO 11 · 0.84× · 14
FL 0 · 0.82× · 61
CA 0 · 0.80× · 80
TN 3 · 0.63× · 12
GA 0 · 0.59× · 20
AZ 0 · 0.56× · 12

What it shows: States with more annual snowfall (inches) tend to sit higher on the chart across 26 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.

A firm pattern: fewer than 1 in 100 patterns this clear turn out to be false alarms. Weak spot: hold very hot days equal and only 33% of the annual snowfall pattern remains, so part of it may be that factor.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, joined to NHTSA owner complaints · downloaded 2026-10-12