by Guest » Tue Aug 05, 2008 09:36 pm
Okay, went and got an estimate from a Geico express site today for a 2008 Toyota Matrix. The car is about 5 months old and has 5,000 miles. They want to give me aftermarket parts on a practically new car. Even worse, the shop that's attached to the Geico Auto Repair Express site is a certified Toyota repair shop.
1. Isn't a 5 month old car new enough to get certified parts?
2. Doesn't a certified shop have to use certified parts?
3. Do I have any recourse here? Is there any sort of leverage when dealing with a Geico adjuster? Does the lawyer card work? How about mentioning that I work for a local newspaper?
1. Isn't a 5 month old car new enough to get certified parts?
2. Doesn't a certified shop have to use certified parts?
3. Do I have any recourse here? Is there any sort of leverage when dealing with a Geico adjuster? Does the lawyer card work? How about mentioning that I work for a local newspaper?
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:45 pm Post Subject:
I would demand new parts. I mean, 5 months for a car is practically brand new anyway.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 03:27 am Post Subject:
The use of used salvage and/or imitation/counterfeit parts is not covered by the Toyota transferable limited warranty
No they don't warrenty other peoples parts... those AM parts have their own warrenty. But lets be honest... how often does a fender or bumper fail.and all adjoining parts and systems which are caused to fall or trust by those parts.
Nothing out of the ordinary here... again, how often has a fender caused a door to fail.. or a door causing a 1/4 panel to fail. It just does not happen. Keep in mind, we are not talking about damage from an accident (as Toyota does not warrenty this)... we are talking about an AM (somehow) failing and then (somehow) causing an adjacent part to fail.Additionally, we are concerned about our customers and maintaining Toyota vehicle image, value, functional and safety systems, and transferable factory warranties.
Toyota is concerned about the people who own their cars keeping up their "image"? [/quote]Since Toyota does not warrant used salvage parts, we want to make sure customers are aware of the consequences of having used salvage parts installed on their vehicles. At this time, we believe there are no systems or processes in place to regulate the quality of used salvage parts in market. Therefore, we are concerned about improper use of used salvage parts, i.e., wrong application as well as the use of damage materials. [/quote]I think it's obvious to most people that Toyota simply does not make money off salavge or AM parts so of course they don't "recommend" them. This statement is simply being made as Toyota wants people to use new OEM parts... perhaps because this is the way Toyota makes most of their money? Heck, they don't even stand behind their used OEM parts!
But the kicker to this statement is that it says NOTHING about the quality of AM parts! Basically, only that they don't warrenty other companies parts.
I would channel the liability back to the shop that agrees to use these parts that Toyota says will void my warranty.
Except that Toyota does not say that at all. But I think I understand what you really meant.I say that no carrier should use anything other then new OEM on such a newer vehicle! I had GEICO and this was their policy (i.e. they don't correct this situation), I'd drop them by the end of the week.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 05:26 am Post Subject:
The big issue with aftermarket sheet metal and structural parts is that aftermarket parts have never been crash tested nor are they required to be crash tested. Vehicle manufacturers spend great sums of money crash testing their vehicles and timing the supplemental restraint systems (airbags). Aftermarket parts manufacturers do not crash test their parts or determine if airbag timing is altered. So no one really knows if they are or are not as crashworthy as an OEM part. I suspect if they were held to the same crash test standards as a new car manufacturer the cost of an aftermarket part may be close to or more than the OEM counterpart.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:21 am Post Subject:
The big issue with aftermarket sheet metal and structural parts is that aftermarket parts have never been crash tested nor are they required to be crash tested.
Don't tell that to the IIHS, who is just one of the organizations who [/b]has[/b] crash tested the parts..."However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says that with the possible exception of hoods, there are no safety implications of using cosmetic crash parts from any source. This has been demonstrated by crash tests conducted at the IIHS. In addition, an independent, third-party nonprofit organization, Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), rigorously inspects generic automotive parts and guarantees the quality of those that meet its high standards. Generic crash parts do not interfere with a vehicle's existing warranty and are often manufactured by the same supplier and in the same manner as OEM parts."
Please, let's not start the AM part quality thread all over again (_please_)... it's been beat to death already. This thread is about using AM parts on a _new_ vehicle. I think almost every carrier won't use AM parts on a new plus 2 or 3 years vehicle. I'd be interested in hearing what GEICOs policy is.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:34 am Post Subject:
I agree Todd, I just wonder if there wasn't a mistake...I don't know of any carrier that does this...I too am interested in Gieco's stance on this...If I get some time today I might just try and track down a Gieco adjuster and find out their company SOP, regarding this...I see them occasionally at shops, plan to be in three different ones today...if not I'm sure I can get a phone number for one...
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 01:56 pm Post Subject:
The IIHS or CAPA does not crash test aftermarket parts. Both organizations are insurance financed and are not independant. If either oganization does please provide a link. Thanks.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 08:27 pm Post Subject:
In March 2000, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reaffirmed that the source of a car's cosmetic crash parts is irrelevant to crashworthiness. Using a 1997 Toyota Camry, OEM cosmetic parts were removed and the hood replaced with a CAPA-certified hood from an aftermarket supplier. The crash test results from a 40-mph frontal offset impact were compared with results from an identical crash test performed on an identical Camry with the OEM parts still intact. Both Camrys performed with distinction and earned good crashworthiness ratings according to the Institute's evaluation procedures. CAPA-certified parts have been proven to perform identically to car company brand parts in every significant aspect. With this data as proof, CAPA uses the term “functionally equivalent” to describe how its parts rank in relation to the OEM cosmetic parts it replaces. This is a much stronger term than “of like kind and quality,” the term used in state and local laws and regulations to describe the standard for replacement parts used in the repair of automobiles.
The Institute for Highway Safety conducted further studies, too. In March 2000, it again concluded that the source of cosmetic replacement parts has nothing to do with the car's subsequent crashworthiness
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 08:28 pm Post Subject:
Found this great chart!
Couldn't get to copy exactly...hope this makes sense...here's the link
http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/genericauto/
STATE AFTERMARKET PARTS LEGISLATION AND REGULATION (1)
As of June 2008
State -(first 'x') Logo, ID-number or mfg.'s name(2nd 'x')-Estimate must identify non-OEM parts(3rd 'x')-Disclosure statement -Prior consent(4th or final 'x')
Alabama X X X
Alaska
Arizona X X X
Arkansas X X X X (2)
California X X X X
Colorado X X X
Connecticut X X
Delaware
D.C.
Florida X X
Georgia X X X
Hawaii X X X
Idaho X X X
Illinois X X X
Indiana X X (3)
Iowa X X X
Kansas X (4) X (4)
Kentucky
Louisiana X X X
Maine
Maryland X X
Massachusetts X X
Michigan X X
Minnesota
Mississippi X X X
Missouri X X X
Montana
Nebraska X X X
Nevada X X
New Hampshire X X X
New Jersey X X X
New Mexico X
New York X X
North Carolina X X
North Dakota
Ohio X X X X
Oklahoma X X X
Oregon X X X
Pennsylvania X X
Rhode Island X (6) X X (5)
South Carolina
South Dakota X X X
Tennessee X X X
Texas X
Utah X X X X
Vermont
Virginia X X
Washington X X X
West Virginia X (7) X (7)
Wisconsin X X X
Wyoming X X X X
(1) This chart covers regulations concerning only aftermarket parts, which are new parts made by a company other than the original vehicle manufacturer. This chart does not cover regulations for using used, rebuilt, or reconditioned parts.
(2) Consent required if vehicle is still under original warranty.
(3) Consent required for the five years after a vehicle's model year.
(4) Does not apply to vehicles more than 10 model years of age or older.
(5) For vehicles less than 30 months beyond date of manufacture, repair shop shall not use non-OEM parts without consent of vehicle owner.
(6) Applies to the repair bill.
(7) Generic crash parts sufficient to maintain warranty must be used in repairs for a period of three years beginning with the year of manufacture.
Source: Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 08:43 pm Post Subject:
One tested part(s) from a 1997 vehicle does not mean that all aftermarket parts have been tested or are safe. I would particularly like to see the results of a core support or bumper reinforcement as these components are generally considered structural and have influence on air bag timing.
IIHS and CAPA are both soley insurance funded organizations and are the only ones to proclaim aftermarket parts are just as good as original. Their findings must be taken with a grain of salt. Follow the money trail and the rest is academic.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 08:49 pm Post Subject:
Sorry, you asked,/said
The IIHS or CAPA does not crash test aftermarket parts.
If either oganization does please provide a link. Thanks.
And clearly they do...Who tests ford, gm and all the other parts? that would be them and the iihs right?
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