Fake car parts can cause serious issues, from system malfunctions to fires and accidents, due to being manufactured with inferior materials that don’t meet industry standards.
Fake auto parts often look and feel identical to their real-world counterparts; however, there may be subtle distinctions that help identify them. Look out for any signs such as:
1. Look at the packaging
From designer handbags to household electrical cords, anything counterfeited – including auto parts – can be counterfeited. Fake replacement parts often consist of lower quality materials that do not meet manufacturer specifications and may even pose potential safety hazards; authentic parts provide better reliability and performance than their counterfeited counterparts.
Genuine parts are designed to meet specific specifications and undergo stringent testing, as well as come equipped with their own unique serial number or part code that allows customers to easily trace back their origin. Any serial numbers that do not correspond with specific holograms on the part are an indicator of counterfeit parts.
Watch for suspiciously low prices; parts offered at prices disproportionate to their original cost are likely fake parts. Also, examine any instructions included with spare parts carefully to ensure they’re free of typos or grammar mistakes that might indicate counterfeit parts are present; incorrect instructions could indicate these fake parts exist as well.
2. Look at the material
Counterfeit parts often made of inferior materials can pose serious threats to a car’s system, from air bags that don’t deploy as intended to brakes that wear down quicker – fake auto parts pose a grave safety risk and should always be treated as such.
One of the easiest ways to spot counterfeit OEM parts is by inspecting their material composition. A genuine part will always use top-grade materials and be built according to industry standards; any part that appears cheap and feels plasticky likely doesn’t belong.
Fake parts may differ in color or weight from those they replace, as well as having typos or incomplete instructions in their packaging that point towards its non-genuine status. Genuine auto parts typically feature QR codes or RFID tags that can be verified online by their manufacturers for verification.
3. Look at the design
Non-genuine spare parts may appear authentic; however, they often fail to comply with industry standards or car manufacturer’s specifications and can lead to engine malfunction, short circuiting, and accidents.
Counterfeit manufacturers do not hold themselves accountable for the safety and performance of their parts, placing your vehicle at risk. This is particularly relevant to critical safety components like airbags, seatbelts, windshields and brakes that must be operational to function safely.
Before installing any part, always inspect it first for fuzzy logos, poor molding quality, different materials or misalignment of holes compared to its original. If something appears amiss, don’t be shy in asking the seller about their supply chain and verification processes as this could indicate counterfeit products. Furthermore, don’t buy parts with prices too good to be true as these could be signs that it may be counterfeit products.
4. Look at the weight
Counterfeit auto parts have become an increasing threat in today’s marketplace, necessitating manufacturers to remain wary of fake and scam parts being produced and distributed. Unauthorized parts can pose severe safety hazards for your car’s systems as well as cause system malfunctions costing a fortune in repairs over time.
Fake OEM parts may appear similar to their real counterparts, but are often much less expensive and do not feature equal material quality. Furthermore, their packaging may also be inferior, and tracking them back to their source company can often prove challenging since these counterfeit items lack serial numbers or holograms.
When a price seems too good to be true, it often is. If you encounter parts for sale at extremely reduced rates, report it immediately so the OEM can remove fake products from sale quickly.
