Tire Industry Association urges Congress to pass Right to Repair Act

The debate over the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) is heating up in Congress. Recently, the Tire Industry Association voiced their opinion on the matter, strongly urging Congress to pass the legislation in order to ensure that car owners and their repair shops have the same access to safety alerts and repair information as the franchised new car dealer network.

"We have always supported Right to Repair, but because most new vehicles are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that are controlled by computers, we felt compelled to formally state our position," says Roy Littlefield, executive vice president of the Tire Industry Association. "TPMS systems cannot take the place of regular maintenance on tires, but are intended to protect motorists from the dangers of operating a vehicle with underinflated tires. Keeping these systems updated and in safe working condition requires ready access to complete and accurate information from the car companies."

The legislative intent of the Right to Repair Act is to offer protections for motor vehicle owners by making it illegal for vehicle manufacturers to withhold information necessary to diagnose, service or repair motor vehicles. Right to Repair ensures that car owners can have their vehicle serviced at the repair shop of their choice, whether it's their neighborhood repair shop or a franchised new car dealer.

"We encourage our members and all motorists send a letter to each of their congressional representatives, urging them to support the Right to Repair Act," Littlefield adds.

More information about the Right to Repair Act and a complete list of its supporters is available online.