DEARBORN, Nov. 29, 2010 – 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.”
Aftermarket copy parts are parts unauthorized by the vehicle
manufacturer, often constructed with substandard materials in order to
be marketed as a cheaper alternative to authorized replacement parts.
Ford replacement crash parts, including all structural parts, are
identical to those used in new vehicle production and operate seamlessly
with the vehicle’s safety system.
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.
Ford’s efforts, spurred by concerns voiced about copy parts
throughout the collision repair industry, examined OEM and aftermarket
copy bumper beams for the Ford Mustang from the 2005 through 2009 model
years. The parts were first put through a 6-mph frontal impact sled
test, then corresponding bumper absorbers and bumper isolators were
added for 5-mph and 8-mph full-vehicle flat barrier crash tests.
More airbag deployments
Data from the 8-mph crash barrier test demonstrated that the amount
of crash energy absorbed by the aftermarket copy bumper beam is less
than that of the OEM beam. The data also showed that the frequency of
airbag deployments at low speeds will increase with the use of the copy
bumper beam, absorber and isolator because the copy parts do not
transmit the crash pulse as effectively to the crash sensors to indicate
when an airbag should be deployed.
“Genuine Ford parts are designed to work properly with the entire
vehicle structure, just like a brand-new car,” said David Bauch, Ford
sensor technical specialist. “The pulse to the airbag sensors will
change with the aftermarket bumper, affecting the sensor’s decision to
deploy or not to deploy an airbag.”
Side-by-side visual comparisons following each test also offered
striking differences, with the aftermarket beam failing to perform in a
manner consistent with that of the genuine Ford part. Click here for images comparing a Ford bumper beam with an aftermarket copy part, following the crash tests.
“The copy bumper beam had an aftermarket absorber made of
polystyrene and an aftermarket isolator. The stacking up of these parts
changed the crash characteristics of the entire bumper assembly, which
is why Ford conducts both component-level crash testing and system-level
testing on all of its vehicles,” said Roger Chen, Ford crash
development engineer.
The sled test, a component-level test used to determine how a
single part will react under dynamic crash conditions, showed the
aftermarket copy bumper beam failed to absorb energy like that of the
genuine Ford beam, with deceleration and velocity measurements
inconsistent with those of the OEM part. The copy part crushed nearly
flat on each end and displayed little energy absorption, while the Ford
part suffered only slight intrusion on the sides and absorbed more crash
energy before rebounding close to its original form.
Double trouble with higher repair costs
In each test, the genuine Ford parts performed as designed and
resulted in a substantially lower estimated repair bill, while the copy
parts led to significantly higher repair costs.
Damage estimates following the 5-mph crash test put the repair cost
for the vehicle fitted with aftermarket copy parts at $2,982 (using
aftermarket prices for the bumper beam, absorber and isolator, and OEM
parts for the remainder), nearly two-and-a-half times the $1,224 (using
all OEM parts) estimate for the vehicle with genuine Ford parts.
Estimates after the 8-mph crash came in at $3,816 for the
aftermarket vehicle and $3,441 for the Mustang with genuine Ford
parts. However, in cases where the crash resulted in unwarranted
deployment for both front airbags, the repair cost for the vehicle with
copy parts would jump to at least $5,394.
Copy bumpers compromise safety systems
Statistics show the vast majority of injury accidents occur at
speeds below 35 mph. In low-speed accidents, the bumper beam plays a
significant role in absorbing crash energy and ensuring the proper
operation of the safety system of the vehicle as a whole.
“A vehicle is required to pass a multitude of crash tests before
the vehicle is sold to consumers,” said Massie. “In sharp contrast,
aftermarket copy parts face no crash test requirements prior to
distribution, and have not been proven to work effectively with the rest
of the vehicle’s components. Copy parts should be subjected to the same
government safety tests as the original parts so consumers can see the
true costs that come with using many copy parts.”
Ford is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, collision industry trade associations, state
governmental and regulatory agencies, elected officials, the Alliance of
Automobile Manufacturers and others, to help improve the oversight of
aftermarket copy structural parts and monitor their impact on the safety
of the driving public.
No comments:
Post a Comment