Failure Symptom
A failure symptom is an observable sign that equipment condition or performance has become abnormal.
What this term means in maintenance
A failure symptom is an observable sign that equipment condition or performance has become abnormal.
Examples of failure symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- Noise
- Vibration
- Leakage
- High temperature
- Low pressure
- Slow movement
- Electrical trip
- Smell
- Product defect
- Intermittent operation
Practical example
An operator reports high vibration and abnormal noise from a pump. These are symptoms, not yet confirmed failure modes or causes.
Symptom versus failure mode
A symptom is what is observed.
A failure mode describes how the required function failed.
A cause explains why the failure occurred.
Request quality
Requestors should describe symptoms accurately without guessing the root cause.
Common mistake
Recording “bearing failure” before inspection can bias diagnosis and produce unreliable history.
Related concepts
Related maintenance terms
Keep exploring connected CMMS, reliability, and maintenance planning terms.
Failure Mode
A failure mode describes the specific way an asset, component, or function fails to meet its required performance.
Failure Code
A failure code is a controlled classification used to record how an asset or component failed in a consistent, reportable way.
Maintenance Notification
A maintenance notification is an initial record used to report an equipment problem, abnormal condition, service need, or required maintenance action before detailed planning begins.
Glossary FAQs
- What is a failure symptom?
An observable sign of abnormal equipment condition or performance.
- How is it different from a failure mode?
A symptom is observed; a failure mode describes how the required function failed.
- Who normally reports symptoms?
Operators, inspectors, technicians, sensors, and condition-monitoring systems.