Call on auto insurers to replace defective parts

Who:

State Assemblyman Dave Jones

Toby Chess of Los Angeles, national auto parts expert

Lee Amaradio, president of the Collision Repair Association of California

What:

Press conference alerting consumers that thousands of damaged vehicles in California have been repaired with aftermarket bumper supports from China that are significantly weaker than the bumper supports from the vehicle’s manufacturer.

Why:

(1) Alert consumers that their cars may have been repaired with inferior parts that affect the safety performance of a vehicle in a collision.

(2) Call on the Department of Insurance and auto insurers to figure out which cars have defective bumpers, alert consumers, and institute a program to replace these defective bumper bars.

(3) Announce that Jones is prepared to introduce legislation on this matter if the Department of Insurance and auto insurers do not quickly alert consumers and replace the defective bumper bars on California roads today.

Where and When:

Thursday, April 8 at 12:00 noon

Gamboa’s Body & Frame, 1101 North D Street , Sacramento

(Off Richards Blvd and Dos Rios)

Visuals:

Display of factory bumper bars and aftermarket bumper bars from China .

Live test showing the strength differences between factory and aftermarket reinforcement bars for a Toyota and a Ford.

Film of crash tests.