Collision
Repair Position Papers: Ford 
The
following represents a collection of all Ford position statements
relating to collision repair.
Imitation Parts
and FORD Warranty:
The use of
imitation crash parts to repair collision
damaged vehicles raises concerns about
warranty and quality. Imitation crash parts are not covered under
the Ford new vehicle limited warranty or any other Ford warranty.
In addition, any damage to or failure of a Ford part caused by the
installation or improper performance of an imitation part is not covered
under the Ford new vehicle limited warranty or any other Ford warranty.
However, the use of imitation crash parts for vehicle repair does
not, in itself, void the Ford new vehicle limited warranty. The limited
warranty for the rest of the vehicle, excluding the imitation part
itself, remains in effect. Ford believes the interests of vehicle
owners and collision repairers are best protected by the use of genuine
Ford replacement crash parts to repair collision damage.
Salvage Parts
and FORD Warranty:
The increasing
use of salvage parts to repair collision-damaged vehicles raises concerns
about warranty and quality. Salvage parts are not covered under the
Ford new vehicle warranty or any other Ford warranty. In addition,
any damage to or failure of a Ford part caused by the installation
or improper performance of a salvage part is not covered under the
Ford new vehicle limited warranty or any other Ford warranty. However,
the use of salvage parts for vehicle repair does not, in itself, void
the Ford new vehicle limited warranty. The limited warranty for the
rest of the vehicle, excluding the salvage part itself, remains in
effect. Many factors can influence the quality of salvage parts, such
as exposure to weather, improper removal or hidden structural damage.
In addition, parts salvaged from Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles
may not always be genuine Ford parts. Ford believes the interests
of vehicle owners and collision repairers are best protected by the
use of genuine Ford replacement crash parts to repair collision damage.
Imitation Crash
Parts and Air Bag Systems:
Ford Motor
Company is confident about the performance of air bag systems it designs
and installs in its vehicles. However, Ford cannot be confident that
its air bag systems and components will perform properly on vehicles
that have been repaired with imitation crash parts. Testing by Ford
has shown imitation crash parts to be substandard in their fit and
structural integrity. To our knowledge, no testing has been conducted
to verify that the performance of imitation crash parts -- particularly
crucial front-end parts, such as hoods, bumper reinforcements and
header panels -- in front-end crashes will be compatible with Ford
air bag systems. Genuine Ford replacement crash parts are the same
as those used on new vehicles, which have been crash tested and meet
all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Because so little is known
about the effect of imitation parts on airbag system and component
integrity, Ford believes genuine Ford crash parts should be used for
collision repairs to protect the interests of both collision repairers
and vehicle owners.
Use of Salvaged
Air Bag Systems:
Ford Motor
Company is confident about the performance of air bag systems it designs
and installs in its vehicles. However, Ford cannot be confident that
air bag systems or components salvaged from damaged vehicles for re-use
will perform properly. Many factors may influence the integrity of
salvaged air bag systems or components, such as weathering and improper
removal techniques. In addition, air bag systems are designed for
specific vehicles, with changes occurring even within specific vehicle
models to accommodate technological advancements. it is possible for
an air bag system or an individual air bag component to fit into an
inappropriate vehicle, thereby jeopardizing the integrity of the air
bag system. For these reasons, Ford believes only new air bag systems
and components should be used to repair damaged vehicles. Ford believes
the interests of repairers and vehicle owners are best protected when
new genuine Ford replacement air bag systems and components are used.
Repair and
Replacement of Safety Belt Systems:
Ford Motor
Company recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles
involved in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was
minor and a qualified technician finds that the belts do not show
damage and continue to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced.
Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be
inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.
Before installing a new safety belt assembly, the safety belt attaching
areas must be inspected for damage and distortion. If the attaching
points are damaged or distorted, the sheet metal must be reworked
back to its original shape and structural integrity. Also, be sure
that if new safety belt service parts are needed, they are intended
specifically for the vehicle in which they are being installed. Ford
Motor Company describes recommended functional testing procedures
for both shoulder harnesses and lap belts and retractors in Ford Technical
Service Bulletin 85-2-4, and in Ford service manuals.
©1999 Ford
Motor Company
Ford Crash Parts Headquarters
P.O. Box 490
Dearborn, MI 48121
Read
More OEM Position Statements
Be
sure to click on all of the additional links we have provided under
the "Consumer" button
in the left-hand column navigational bar. There's a wealth of information
available here, including documents about
your rights, what to do after an accident,
and much more.
We hope you'll
find our site useful and welcome your comments and suggestions on
how we can improve our efforts. Contact us through phone or eMail
at: 770.641.1810
or gcia@gcia.org.
