Most comments post immediately and are reviewed after the fact; only comments flagged by filters or other members enter a pre-publish queue, typically cleared within 4 business hours. You're notified of four outcomes — Published, Held for review, Edited, or Removed — and removals always cite the specific community guideline broken, with a 14-day window to appeal through the notification itself.
At a glance
| Status | What triggers it | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Published | No filter or report trigger | Immediate |
| Held for review | Automated filter flag or member report | Reviewed within 4 business hours |
| Edited | Minor policy issue (e.g., personal contact info) | Notification with reason at time of edit |
| Removed | Guideline violation confirmed | Notification with cited rule + appeal link |
The default: publish first, review after
Most comments go live immediately so conversation stays natural. A backend filter and community reports run continuously in the background, so a comment can move from Published to Held or Removed after the fact if it's flagged.
What sends you a notification
- Your comment enters the pre-publish queue (rare — only for accounts with a recent violation history or comments matching a high-confidence spam/abuse filter).
- Your comment is edited by a moderator (contact info redacted, a link removed) rather than deleted outright.
- Your comment is removed, with the specific guideline cited (e.g., "Personal attacks," "Off-topic spam," "Unverified safety claim").
- A reply to your comment is removed, if it affects a thread you started.
Timing commitments
- Held-for-review comments: decision within 4 business hours on weekdays, next business day on weekends.
- Reported comments: initial triage within 24 hours.
- Appeals: a human reviewer responds within 5 business days.
How the appeal path works
Every removal notification includes an "Appeal this decision" link, open for 14 days from the notification. Appeals are routed to a moderator who did not make the original call. You'll get a second notification with the outcome — upheld, or comment restored — and restored comments do not count against your account's violation history.
Automated pre-publish queuing is not a permanent flag — accounts return to standard (publish-first) status after 60 days with no further violations.
Frequently asked questions
Why was my comment held before it posted?
Will I be told why a comment was removed?
Can I appeal a removed comment?
Does an edited comment count as a violation?
How fast is the moderation decision?
Sources & further reading
- The Santa Clara Principles on Transparency and Accountability in Content Moderation
- W3C — Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
