That augments vehicle directional stability by applying and adjusting the vehicle brake torques individually to induce a correcting yaw moment to a vehicle;Checked 2026-08-12
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
A system that brakes individual wheels to correct the vehicle's direction during a skid.
Also called: ESC · stability control · VSC · StabiliTrak · VSA · DSC
What it means
Definition
The federal standard defines an ESC system as one that augments vehicle directional stability by applying and adjusting the vehicle brake torques individually to induce a correcting yaw moment to a vehicle. In plain terms, it brakes one wheel to turn the car back toward where it is being steered. The standard states its purpose as reducing deaths and injuries from crashes in which the driver loses directional control, including those resulting in rollover.
Why a buyer cares
What it changes
The system shares its wheel-speed sensors with ABS, so a lamp that stays on steady — rather than flashing during a slide, which is the system working — is a fault worth reading with a scan tool.
In practice
Where you meet it
The skidding-car telltale on the cluster, badged ESC, VSC, VSA, DSC or StabiliTrak depending on the make.
Two things that look alike
Not the same as
Traction control limits wheelspin under power; ESC also acts in a corner, with the driver off the throttle.
Read next
Related terms
Where this comes from
Sources
The purpose of this standard is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries that result from crashes in which the driver loses directional control of the vehicle, including those resulting in vehicle rollover.Checked 2026-08-12
A Subaru marketing page was dropped in review — the regulation carries the definition better and the manufacturer page added nothing.