Hyundai Urges Consumers To Be Wary Of Phony Parts

Has your car been involved in a crash recently? Or has your car undergone major mechanical repairs? And, were you asked by the shop, where the work was performed, whether they could swap substitute parts in for more expensive original equipment (OE) parts? Or, have you been asked to take your vehicle to an independent shop where the costs may be less?

Every Day Occurrence

If you have, you are not alone. Every day, across the country body and repair shops ask the same questions of motorists. Many shops will pick up less expensive copies or imported parts for use on a car. Ostensibly, they will say they are saving you money, but, are they?

On paper, it is true the parts do seem less expensive for two primary reasons: they copies from overseas or they may be re-used parts from already-damaged cars. Either way, automakers have stated, the parts are likely to be compromised and are not as likely to stand up to the rigors of hard automotive use. Automakers have long urged consumers to use OE parts for all major body and car repairs. The latest to launch a warning campaign about counterfeit or re-used parts is Hyundai.

Hyundai, in an effort to warn drivers of the “risks involved when using counterfeit automotive parts,” has launched an integrated ad and public relations campaign that focuses on safety. The campaign issues the cautionary note in a new YouTube video. The campaign warns motorists of the risks involved when using counterfeit auto parts. You can find the video, entitled “Good to Know – Counterfeit Parts,” at Hyundai USA’s YouTube channel or a Hyundaiusa.com/consumerawareness.

Sometimes, due to what the believe to be high costs, motorists choose – or they may be told by their insurance companies – to visit independent repair shops that may not be recognized by the automakers for crash or other major repairs.

Some of these shops may use copies of original equipment parts or recycled components from collision-damaged vehicles – the type of parts often found at salvage yards. Though these parts cost less, the automaker says, that “these parts are unsafe for long-term use and pose a great danger to safety.”
Counterfeit (copies) or recycled parts can also affect a vehicle’s appearance and may decrease its resale value. Hyundai urges its owners to use original equipment manufacturer parts on all vehicle repairs because they meet the automaker’s engineering specs.

Don’t Re-Use Auto Parts

Like all manufacturers, Hyundai doesn’t recommend the use or reuse of components that may have been removed or recycled from collision-damaged vehicles.

While owners must be aware, they should also know that it is hard to find out if their repair facility Is using non-OE parts or parts that may have been recycled. Recycled parts can often be damaged due to the crash that has damaged the vehicle from which they were harvested. Or, it is possible that the donor vehicle was exposed to the elements and the parts that were pulled were also damaged.