Toyota: alternative parts could lack safety and performance

Dec. 9, 2010—Toyota recently announced that they do not recommend the use of alternative parts for the repair of Toyota vehicles.

Toyota’s recommendation is to use only OEM parts due to the lack of testing and potential safety and performance risk of alternative parts, according to a Toyota press release_notes. Alternative parts include: aftermarket, rebuilt and recycled parts.

Toyota is not alone in slamming aftermarket parts. Since August, Ford, Hyundai and Honda have issued similar statements recommending only using OEM parts for vehicle repairs. In July, Ford released findings from its study that aftermarket parts are inferior to OEM parts.

Since the release of the various statements, aftermarket groups such as the Automotive Recyclers and the Aftermarket Parts Association have filed complaints against car manufacturers for coming out against the use of aftermarket parts.