ARA disagrees with GM position statement strictly prohibiting recycled parts

The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) disagrees with a recently updated GM collision position statement that states the automaker strictly prohibits the use of recycled OEM parts, according to a press release. 

GM revised its position statements last month to add the words “strictly prohibited” in red to refer to the use of salvage, recycled, used, or non-Genuine parts. This includes GM’s ADAS position statement, which ARA directly mentions in its release. 

“Recycled original equipment parts give vehicle owners access to affordable repair parts at a time when repair costs continue to climb,” the release states. “With the average vehicle on U.S. roads now approaching 13 years old, automotive recyclers are increasingly becoming the only source for OEM parts as a vehicle ages.”

Without the option of recycled parts, vehicle owners may be unable to afford to keep their car on the road, Vince Edivan, ARA executive director, says in the release. 

“We believe GM’s position creates an important contradiction,” Edivan says. “If ADAS components can remain in service after a collision when they pass OEM inspection, diagnostic, and calibration procedures, then an undamaged OEM component from another vehicle should be evaluated under those same standards. If prior collision exposure alone makes an ADAS component unsafe, then all ADAS components should be replaced after every collision repair, regardless of condition or calibration results.” 

He adds that if inspections and calibrations are sufficient to validate a component already on a vehicle, those principles should apply to properly inspected and validated recycled OEM components. 

“We support repair decisions based on safety, testing, and objective evidence, not blanket assumptions about the source of a part,” Edivan says. 

ARA says it will closely monitor whether GM’s updated position will affect vehicle owners’ ability to repair their vehicles with recycled parts. 

“ARA has historically, and successfully, opposed state legislation that would mandate the exclusive use of new OEM parts in vehicle repairs,” the release states. “GM’s updated position statement highlights the importance of ARA’s advocacy and its role in protecting consumer access to a competitive replacement parts market.”

GM has made several revisions to position statements in recent months. 

In April, GM updated its ADAS position statement to add language emphasizing the technology as a safety feature that must be restored to pre-loss condition.

A portion of the position released in March states, “GM Genuine Parts are designed, engineered, tested, and validated by GM.”

The revised statement released April 23 states, “GM Genuine Parts are designed, engineered, tested, validated, and in many instances function as safety features. Many of these technologies help support crash avoidance, driver awareness, or occupant protection, and their performance must be restored to pre-loss condition using GM-approved repair and calibration procedures.”

In April, another section of the position statement removed the wording “not recommended” when discussing the use of aftermarket or non-genuine parts and accessories in ADAS sensor areas. 

The revised statement states, “The use of salvaged, recycled, reconditioned, remanufactured, aftermarket, or any secondary-market ADAS radars, cameras, sensors, or related components is not approved by GM.”  

The most recent changes now state “is not approved and strictly prohibited by GM.” 

While not new language, GM position statements typically also include a statement that says any damage, failure, or non-performance arising from the installation or presence of non-GM (aftermarket, salvage, recycled, reconditioned, or other) parts, accessories, or modifications is not covered under the GM New Vehicle Limited Warranty or any GM service plans. 

During a Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting in Chicago last month, Teena Bohi, an Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council (A2C2) Board member, discussed how deadly counterfeit airbags can sometimes find their way to online markets as recycled parts. 

“I have seen counterfeit airbags for sale online by recyclers who just took it out of the car, and they didn’t know what they were selling, but I could look at it and know it was a counterfeit airbag,” Bohi said.

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Photo courtesy of Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA)