June 6, 2016—The Michigan legislature passed House Bill 4344, which updates the 1974 Michigan Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act and uses language that limits the use of sheet metal and body parts.
The bill has been sent to Governor Rick Snyder for his signature.
While the bill refers to major sheet metal and body parts, the Auto Care Association (ACA) is concerned that the bill’s interpretation could be expanded to include a broad range of non-OEM parts, providing a competitive advantage for OEM parts over other parts from the aftermarket.
The term of limitation is the vehicle manufacturer’s original warranty, or the first five years of the warranty, whichever is less. The bill requires that a motor vehicle repair facility will replace “major component parts” with a new original equipment manufacturer part, a used or recycled original equipment manufacturer part, or a part that is OEM-comparable quality as verified by a nationally recognized automotive parts-testing agency. A repair facility would need the vehicle owner’s approval to use a part that does not meet these standards.
