How is a missing or damaged heat shield recorded in the VI?

• A. As a service bulletin item.
• B. As a failure due to heat shield integrity issues.
• C. Noted as minor cosmetic issue.
• D. As a pass if not rattling.

Answer: (B)

The important idea is that a missing or damaged heat shield is treated as a safety-related defect tied to the heat shield’s integrity during the visual inspection. If the heat shield is missing or damaged, it can allow excessive heat exposure and even pose a risk of ignition, so it’s recorded as a failure due to heat shield integrity issues rather than something cosmetic or elective.

This isn’t a service bulletin item, which would be a manufacturer notice rather than a VI defect category, and it isn’t considered a minor cosmetic issue because the condition affects safety and the vehicle’s proper functioning. It also wouldn’t be a pass simply because there’s no rattling; the integrity of the heat shield has to be intact to pass the VI.