New Ford Motor Company crash tests show that not all replacement vehicle parts are created equal when it comes to safety and the cost of repair when an accident occurs.The low-speed crash tests conducted by Ford showed that a commonly used copy bumper beam absorbs less crash energy than the vehicle's original bumper beam or a genuine Ford replacement bumper beam. The tests also showed that vehicles with the copy part were more likely to experience unintended airbag deployments during low-speed collisions.
All of this can lead to higher repair costs when accidents occur. Repair estimates show aftermarket copy bumper beams can more than double the repair costs after even a low-speed accident compared to a genuine Ford replacement bumper beam.
"This should be an eye-opener for all consumers. These tests raise more questions about unintended airbag deployments in the event of a future crash," said Paul Massie, Ford Powertrain and Collision Product Marketing Manager. "They also highlight the dangers of being penny-wise and pound-foolish, as less expensive copy parts could lead to much higher repair costs down the road. All drivers should be aware that copy parts can compromise both the safety performance and the long-term repair costs of your vehicle."
The crash tests underscore the results of Ford's previously released Computer-Aided Engineering testing, definitively showing that the copy parts are not "like kind and quality" to the original equipment manufacturer parts – as is required by many states – and will not return a vehicle to pre-accident condition.