March 2, 2021
Nissan wants you to use the highest quality replacement parts in your repair.
When you take your Nissan in for repairs, it is essential that you use dedicated Nissan OEM replacement parts in order to guarantee the best possible outcome for your vehicle.
Nearly every car manufacturer releases “OEM Position Statements” that instruct body shops in how to perform repairs to the highest standard. The engineers at Nissan have released a statement saying that the use of aftermarket, gray market, and imitation parts can compromise the integrity of your repair.
Here is what Nissan states about using OEM parts:
“Genuine Nissan replacement parts are developed to deliver the same fit, function, safety, and structural integrity as when the vehicle was originally built. Parts of the vehicle are designed to work together as a system, and we do not know whether or how integrating aftermarket parts into these systems will impact crash performance.”
Basically, what they are saying is that you might be putting your safety in jeopardy if your repair does not include ONLY the use of OEM parts.
Why OEM parts are the best:
The engineers at Nissan have designed, tested, and manufactured the replacement parts for their specific vehicles. Aftermarket and other non-OEM parts are more generic, meaning they are intended for broader use. Because they are more generic, aftermarket parts are not guaranteed to fit and function precisely for Nissans. They might not be made of the highest quality materials, so they are likely to break more quickly. Their dimensions might be slightly off, so they might not fit properly where they are supposed to.
And if you decide to mix and match OEM parts with aftermarket parts, this can cause the whole car’s system to function improperly. One problem dominoes into another problem, leading to a whole lot of issues in the future.
Your warranty is at stake.
Another major reason to use OEM parts in your repair is that the parts you use affect your warranty. According to Nissan:
“Nissan North America’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and Limited Warranty on replacement parts do not apply to any parts other than Genuine Nissan original equipment parts. Nissan North America will not be responsible for any subsequent repair costs associated with a vehicle and/or part failure caused by the use of parts other than Genuine Nissan replacement parts.”
You risk voiding your warranty by using non-OEM parts on your Nissan, which might cause you major financial headaches down the road.
We take these guidelines seriously at our shop.
We take all manufacturers’ Position Statements very seriously at our shop, because we care about your safety AND your wallet. Despite the recommendation to use OEM parts in repairs, some shops will continue to use aftermarket parts, even though this choice can jeopardize your vehicle and void your warranty. It might shock you to learn that body shops are not forced to abide by the manufacturers’ guidelines.
When you take your Nissan to us for repairs, we will use only Nissan OEM replacement parts so that you don’t risk future problems with your car that could potentially lead to an accident. There is no guarantee that every shop will make the smartest and safest choice for your car, but rest assured, we always will.
