What year cars have anti-lock brakes?
Anti-lock brakes began appearing on production cars in the late 1970s and became widely adopted by the 1990s; today, almost all new cars include ABS.
What follows traces the journey from early experiments to today’s standard safety feature, explaining who first offered ABS, how it spread across different segments, and how drivers can verify ABS on a used car.
Origins and evolution of ABS
ABS prevents wheel lock during hard braking, helping you steer and maintain control. Early systems were often hydraulic; modern units are compact, electronic, and integrated with other safety systems.
How ABS works
ABS uses wheel-speed sensors and a hydraulic modulator to monitor wheel slip. When a wheel stops rotating or slows dangerously, the system rapidly pulses brake pressure on that wheel, allowing it to recover traction and preventing skidding. The cycle typically runs several times per second.
Early milestones
In the late 1970s, a handful of luxury models introduced production ABS. Throughout the 1980s, major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, and Volvo expanded availability, moving ABS from rare option to mainstream feature.
Key milestones in the spread of ABS across car categories are listed below.
- Late 1970s: first production ABS appears on select luxury models.
- Early to mid-1980s: additional brands and markets begin offering ABS; the system becomes more common on premium sedans and sports cars.
- Mid to late-1990s: ABS is standard or widely available on new cars in many markets.
- 2000s–present: ABS becomes virtually universal on new passenger cars and many light trucks.
These milestones show how ABS shifted from a costly option to a baseline safety feature across the world.
ABS in the modern era: Today and beyond
From the 1990s onward, ABS shifted from an optional feature to a standard safety system on most new cars. In the 2000s and 2010s, the share of ABS-equipped vehicles increased to near-universal levels, aided by safety regulations and consumer demand. ABS has also become integrated with other safety systems, notably electronic stability control (ESC) and advanced braking assist features.
Safety implications and driver guidance
ABS helps prevent wheel lock, reduce stopping distances on certain surfaces, and improve steering control in emergencies. It is not a substitute for safe driving; drivers should still maintain adequate following distances and adapt to road conditions.
How to tell if your vehicle has ABS
Before checking an individual vehicle, here's how to verify ABS status quickly and reliably.
- Dashboard indicator: when you start the car, the ABS light should illuminate briefly and then go out. If it stays lit, there may be a fault or the car may lack ABS (rare in modern vehicles).
- Window sticker or build sheet: ABS is typically listed among safety or brakes features.
- VIN/online configuration: use the VIN or the manufacturer's build sheet to confirm ABS was equipped on the original build.
- On a test drive: during a controlled emergency braking scenario in a safe environment, you should not feel wheel lock; if the brake pedal pulses, ABS is functioning.
Verification ensures you’re aware of ABS status for maintenance and safety planning when purchasing or owning a vehicle.
Summary
Anti-lock brakes began in the late 1970s on select luxury models and became standard across nearly all new vehicles by the early 2000s. Today, ABS is a baseline safety feature in most markets, often integrated with other braking and stability systems. When shopping for a used car, verify ABS status as part of a broader safety check to ensure reliable braking performance in wet or icy conditions.
What year did ABS become mandatory?
ABS became federally mandatory for new passenger vehicles in the United States starting with the 2012 model year. Other regulations for heavier vehicles and international markets have different timelines, with some medium and heavy-duty vehicles required to have ABS starting in 1997 and 1998, and in Europe, it was required for new vehicles by 2004.
- United States: ABS became a federal requirement for all new passenger vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2011 (for the 2012 model year).
- Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (U.S.): ABS was mandated in stages. For example, truck tractors were required to have it starting March 1, 1997, and single-unit air-braked vehicles were required to have it starting March 1, 1998.
- Europe: ABS became a mandatory safety feature on all new cars sold in Europe by 2004.
- Canada: ABS was mandated for new passenger vehicles in 2012.
Which cars have anti-lock brakes?
Every car in the U.S. after 2011 has had to be equipped with electronic stability control thanks to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 126. This means they all have four-wheel antilock brakes.
When did all cars get anti-lock brakes?
2012
The modern ABS made its way to the automotive industry via Ford in 1969, Fiat Research Center in 1971 and Toyota in 1971. Motorcycles jumped on board with BMW in 1988. In Europe and other international markets, ABS is required on all vehicles sold after 2004. ABS wasn't mandated in the U.S. until 2012.
What year did cars start having ABS?
The anti-lock braking system (ABS) was first invented in the 1920s for aircraft by Gabriel Voisin, but the modern electronic system was developed in the 1970s, with Bosch and Mercedes-Benz introducing it for passenger cars in 1978. Earlier iterations existed, including a mechanical system in 1969 and a modern electronic one developed for the Concorde aircraft in the late 1960s.
Early developments
- 1920s: French inventor Gabriel Voisin developed an anti-skid system for aircraft brakes, which prevented wheels from locking up during rapid deceleration or on slick surfaces.
- Late 1960s: The first fully electronic ABS was developed for the Concorde aircraft.
Modern electronic ABS
- 1971: Fiat Research Center invented a system called "Antiskid" and sold the patent to Bosch.
- 1978: Mercedes-Benz and Bosch introduced the first modern electronic ABS system for production cars, in the S-Class model.
- 1970s onwards: Other manufacturers, including Ford, Fiat, and Toyota, also introduced their own versions of the technology during this decade.
- 1971: The Chrysler Imperial was the first production car to feature an anti-lock braking system called "Sure-Brake".
Widespread adoption
- The technology gradually became standard in more vehicles throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
- ABS became mandatory in the European Union in 2004 and in the United States in 2013.
