Ed Kizenberger, NYSACTA Executive Director said, "Already some insurers have announced they are discontinuing to specify aftermarket safety parts. Maybe they’re learning from the Toyota situation? We will be alerting our members, the media and state representatives in the Legislature to this matter. We have always been a proponent of following OEM guidelines and recommend our members strictly follow proven methods of collision repair. Remember; shops are the professional experts assuming the ultimate liability for the repair. ”
Orso went on to say, “The right thing to do is for insurers to issue an immediate recall to any consumer concerning any vehicle repaired with aftermarket safety parts. Insurers must be held accountable for all the costs of re-repair, and the consumer must demand refund for those who paid an additional premium for the use of OEM parts or those who paid any difference to repair a vehicle with OEM parts. The aftermarket industry needs to establish a formal recall system FOR these parts if and when they are used. The vehicle should have permanent label affixed alerting future owners and passengers that the vehicle has been modified and safety could be affected.”
Ed Kizenberger also said, “For the future consumers can avoid this situation by only doing business only with those shops who are members of NYSACTA that have publicly adopted a Professional Code of Ethics or at the very least, is advocate for the consumer’s right to a proper repair using approved OEM parts and procedures.”
For more information please visit www.liabra.org.
