The Risks Of Ignoring Manufacturer Specifications In Automotive Repairs

A warranty is an important part of car ownership, giving you peace of mind if anything goes wrong. If your car is in an accident and needs a repair, then usually the work will be under warranty. But if you go to a non-approved repairer who doesn’t follow manufacturer parts of processes you could find any warranties you do have are not worth the paper they’re written on.

Reduced Safety

The number one priority after any automotive car repairs is to ensure vehicles are safe to drive. Manufacturers are quite specific about the parts used in their cars, the type and grade of oil, brake fluid and the way it should be done for good reason – these methods and parts are subject to rigorous safety testing.

Modern vehicles are built with advanced materials and designed to crumple in a certain way. Failure to adhere to manufacturer specifications can alter how a car absorbs impact, putting you and your occupants at risk.

Similarly, airbags are calibrated to work with original components – if they’re replaced with generic ones, they may not work properly when you most need them.

Loss of Warranty

When you don’t use original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts it can invalidate your warranty or lead to an insurance claim being rejected. When you do need a repair and you find your warranty is void, it could leave you having to pay for the repairs yourself and out of pocket. Insurance claims can also be denied leading to more expense and even legal disputes.

Not following manufacturer specs, especially related to emissions, brakes or lights, may also affect your MOT, leading to re-testing fees and further repairs.

Increased Costs

Non-OEM parts are often mass produced to fit multiple vehicles and aren’t specifically designed for your make and model. This can lead to poor fit, requiring extra labour to install, or causing increased wear and tear.

A cheap part that wears out twice as fast means you can end up paying for the same repair twice. Even worse, it can damage other parts of your car necessitating more extensive repairs and further cost.

Premature Failures and Breakdowns

When you get your car repaired you understandably expect it to last so it can come as a shock if it breaks down within months or even weeks of repair. The culprit could well be non-standard/manufacturer parts.

These parts are designed to fit a range of models rather than being precision-made for yours. Even slight variations in size, shape and connection point can cause extra wear on surrounding components or cause other parts to stop working altogether. Often non-OEM parts are made with inferior quality materials too which can lead to corrosion, cracking or failure under stress.

And lastly, non-approved sensors etc may lead to problems with your vehicle’s electrical and computer system, triggering warning lights and disabling important safety features.

At EvolveArc we put safety first in every repair we do. We are manufacturer-approved and always use official parts to ensure you get the repair you deserve. All our work is fully guaranteed and we’ll even provide you with a courtesy car for the entire length of your repair to minimise disruption to you.

Get in contact with the team at EvolveArc today! 

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