Several weeks ago, the three main associations in the
collision repair industry – the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS),
the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Alliance of Automotive Service
Providers (AASP) – issued and signed a joint statement officially recognizing
OEM vehicle manufacturer published repair procedures as the industry's repair
standards.
Since then, BodyShop Business has fielded questions from
industry professionals attempting to seek further clarification on the
statement, particularly whether the use of non-OEM parts and other parts not
recommended by OEMs is still a viable alternative in the repair of a vehicle.
Also, what liability a repairer might incur if they deviate from these endorsed
OEM standards.
In an attempt to answer these questions, BodyShop
Business reached out to SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg, who provided
a written response addressing repairers' concerns. Here is the response in its
entirety:
"One of the benefits we see with this recognition of
a standard is that in part, it actually holds the OEM more accountable to
producing and maintaining repair procedures that document the process of
producing the most accurate and safe repair. We have to pick a baseline to
start from. Ultimately, the published repair process is what is being
recognized as the standard. That said, liability is determined through the
legal system, and best left to that system to determine the full extent of what
falls on whose shoulders. However, with the widely recognized endorsement of
these repair standards by the trade associations representing the expert
craftsmen within the collision repair trade, I believe it would be unsettling
for anyone to intentionally disregard or deviate from published repair
procedures that have been publically accepted by the industry, especially if it
is a situation where the consumer was injured in a future accident. We have
stated the case for years that despite the pressure that may exist from
carriers or parts vendors to ignore OEM published warnings, the repairer is
ultimately the expert responsible for knowing the details of performing a safe
and functional repair. If the OEM is off base in their recommendation, there
are certainly legal mechanisms for others to hold them accountable as well.
Ultimately, all of this comes down to accountability to the
consumer."
More information:
Collision Repair Standards Position Statement Released by Top Industry Groups