How to Spot and Avoid Car Repair Scams

"What's particularly concerning is the widespread lack of confidence among consumers in identifying these scams, with nearly 1 in 5 feeling uncertain about distinguishing between legitimate and unnecessary repairs,” says Paul Knoll, marketing director at AmericanTrucks.

Over-maintenance and unneeded repairs

Even though you’ve just brought your car in for some basic maintenance, the repair shop may try to sell you additional items as well — even if you don’t really need them. Because she knows the mechanics might try to convince him to fix things unnecessarily, Planos says, “The last thing my wife tells me before I go to get the car serviced is, ‘Don’t pay for the cabin air filter to be replaced, and you don’t need new tires.'”

Repair shops also sometimes recommend maintenance that goes beyond what car manufacturers recommend, or want to replace parts that aren’t worn out and still have useful life remaining. The American Automobile Association (AAA) calls the problem “over maintenance” and sees it as widespread.

“Many car owners get talked into over-maintaining their vehicles, which won’t hurt the car but can put an unnecessary dent in your pocketbook,” says Jim Lardear, a spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

One common example of over-maintenance is changing engine oil at 3,000 miles, even though most modern oils are designed to last thousands of miles longer, according to Lardear. Garages also sometimes replace transmission and power steering fluids, spark plugs and air filters that are still usable and do unnecessary wheel alignments, fuel/air induction system cleanings and air conditioning service.

Or they peddle various additives that your car doesn’t really need — and could actually harm it. “Automakers carefully design their vehicles, fluids and lubricants to provide a long service life,” Lardear says. “Adding aftermarket products can upset the chemical balance of a fluid and create problems for your vehicle.”

Knock-off parts

But even when you’re getting a needed repair, you have to be concerned about whether the original equipment manufacturer parts for which you’re paying actually are inferior knockoffs produced by offshore counterfeiters and sold to unscrupulous garages. The impact of counterfeit auto parts entering the U.S. exceeds $1 billion, according to estimates from The Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council (A2C2), a collaboration of automakers working to stop the proliferation of these knockoff car parts.

In March, U.S. Customers and Border Protection officers seized a shipment of Chinese-made counterfeits en route to Philadelphia that included air bag covers, aluminum hoods, front fenders and bumpers, emblazoned with the logos of Chevrolet, Buick and Dodge.

Not only are car owners paying full price for a counterfeit part, but that part may not meet safety requirements, according to Roei Ganzarski, chief executive of Alitheon, a Redmond, Washington-based company that’s developed a technology for authenticating objects by analyzing pictures of them.

Counterfeit brake pads “may not stop your car in an emergency,” Ganzarski warns. “Fake seat belts or airbags may not save your life when you rely upon them to do so."

Spotting counterfeit parts is difficult, according to A2C2. “The best approach is to know and trust the source of the parts or the repair shop that is providing them,” the council advises on its website.“Unfortunately, yes, there’s always someone out there trying to make a cheaper part that looks just like the real one,” says Julie Massaro, executive director of the ASA. “What our ASA shops do is be sure that they buy from a reputable distributor or third-party, aftermarket distribution outlet or even directly from the original car manufacturer. That way they know they are getting a quality part at the best price and not a cheap facsimile.”