If You Only Knew-Would You Accept These Collision Repair Procedures?
If you are ever one of the many who suffer the misfortune of an automobile accident, you’ll need to quickly overcome the confusion, frustration and anger caused by the event to make sure your interests are protected.
The Ford Motor Company has provided the examples below to highlight a few important repair procedures that might occur during your time in a body shop, along with suggestions on how to help make sure you and your vehicle come out on the right track.
Parts Used for Repairs
If you are like most auto owners, you assume parts made by your vehicle manufacturer will be used to repair collision damage to your vehicle. Not necessarily so. “Imitation” or “aftermarket” parts made overseas and parts salvaged from other vehicles often are used in repairs.
Recommendation: You have the right to choose the type of parts used to repair collision damage to your vehicle. Before repairs begin, make sure you know what parts have been specified and then make sure your insurer and repairer know which type of parts you want to be used.
Airbag Replacement
Airbags have surpassed stereo equipment as the most frequent target of auto thieves, which has created a black market tapped by unscrupulous repairers, according to law enforcement authorities. Carfax.com, the Internet vehicle inspection firm, estimates that one in every 25 repairs requiring airbag replacement ends up with installation of a bogus airbag or no airbag at all.
Recommendations: Check Repair Invoice-After the collision repair, ask your repairer for a copy of the parts invoice to make sure replacement airbags were purchased from an authorized dealer. In the case of Ford, its dealers are the exclusive distributors of genuine replacement airbags and the company recommends that repairs be made only with these parts.