Writer Josh Smith, on Vehicle Service Pros’ online magazine, recently warned fleet owners of the danger in installing counterfeit parts and advised vehicle owners to do business only with reputable parts suppliers and repair shops. He also advised fleet owners comparison shop and avoid deals that seem too good to be true. The vehicleservicepros.com website said counterfeit products exist in numerous industries, but, when installed in vehicles, such parts can set the stage for catastrophic failure and thereby pose a danger to everyone traveling on the road.
A counterfeit product is any imitation of a manufacturer’s property, used without permission and intended to mislead consumers. Identifying a counterfeit part can be extremely difficult and the best avoidance is buy parts from reputable dealers
Smith said counterfeiters tend to focus on most often replaced parts, but that brake parts are a main area of concern. However, all vehicle components – including body parts — are subject to counterfeiting.
Last spring, at a Florida port, more than 3,200 counterfeit auto parts were detected. They ranged from automotive fuses to entire vehicle front ends.
The global counterfeit production is estimated at $600 billion annually.
Smith said the safety risks are abundant: faulty brakes, tires that shred or explode, rims that break, electrical components that short or spark, and more.
He also said counterfeit parts can be reported online to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (www.ice.gov) through the HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) tip form, or by calling (866) 347-2423.
Reference: www.vehicleservicepros.com/article/12110479/the-harm-of-counterfeit-parts