Low CAPA Complaint Ratio Validates AAI’s Belief in Quality of Certified Generic Aftermarket Repair P

May 16, 2002

Complaint data released recently by the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) confirms the Alliance of American Insurers’ long-held belief that certified generic parts are equal or superior to auto company replacement parts, according to AAI director of Claims Kirk Hansen.

CAPA’s latest figures showed it had received complaints on only 0.02 percent of the approximately 1.5 million parts that it certified in 2001. This is similar to the complaint rate the association has registered of the past several years. In fact, since 1995, the complaint ratio has never exceeded 0.08 percent.

“For many years it has been the Alliance’s contention that certified generic automobile crash parts of excellent quality,” Hansen commented. “This most recent complaint data further supports our belief that insurers should have the freedom to use independently certified aftermarket parts in vehicle repairs.”

Auto parts tested by CAPA are produced by independent manufacturers. Since 1992 CAPA has used Entela Labs, the same lab used by car companies, to develop standards and inspect auto parts. To earn the CAPA seal of approval, a part must pass stringent tests to assure that it is at least equal, or superior, to its car company counterpart.

After the first three months of 2002, CAPA is achieving similar success. With 357,548 parts certified during the first quarter of 2002, only 94 complaints were registered, resulting in a complaint ratio of 0.03 percent.

“CAPA’s record of quality can be attributed to the fact that all of its parts undergo an extensive fit testing process in which the part is placed on an undamaged vehicle and compared with the automaker’s parts,” Hansen explained. “This gives the organization a record of quality that is unrivaled in any industry.”

Topics Auto

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