Your first part is correct. The “just” is not correct. You need logistics and reporting, esp for recalls.
Edit: posting this at the top so new readers don’t have to read through the stupidity that ensues:
There are virtually no manufacturers that allow non-dealers to perform recall and warranty work today.
Federal regulations (primarily under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act) require automakers to provide a remedy for safety defects at no cost to the consumer. Automakers fulfill that obligation by designating “authorized” service locations—almost ALWAYS their franchised dealerships or manufacturer-owned service centers—to perform the recall repairs.
From a practical standpoint dealerships are bound by their franchise agreements with the manufacturer. Those contracts typically require authorized dealers to perform warranty and recall work on behalf of the automaker. So, while the government obligates the manufacturer to fix the defect, the manufacturer in turn relies on its dealerships (as spelled out in their franchise agreements) to handle the actual repairs.
Not for recalls. It’s easy for folks to sit on social media and assume any mechanic can do it, but that’s not the case. The whole system would have to change. With the biggest being the requirement to track compliance with federally mandated recalls. There is no responsibility of the mechanic to report completion of a repair, nor certification regarding efficacy.
Edit: I actually just re-read your question. I thought you meant brands, but you said dealerships. So… your argument for bypassing dealerships is to use dealerships?
There isn’t some recall reporting system? That would be surprising to me, I’m pretty sure I’ve been able to look up recall status on my car before (not that any have applied so far).
There is that word “just” again. You need to require them to report completion and to certify efficacy. Are you going to also require car brands to honor warranty repairs completed by a third party mechanic? What I’m attempting to point out to you is that this all requires a network and established agreements, not “just” some ad-hoc repair services.
I don’t see how an independent mechanic would be less likely to report completion of a recall repair than a dealership. It sounds like a similar process to safety and emissions inspections and service.
If they need to be Toyota-certified or something to do recalls, then great. Even better if that lets them do warranty work.
Your first part is correct. The “just” is not correct. You need logistics and reporting, esp for recalls.
Edit: posting this at the top so new readers don’t have to read through the stupidity that ensues:
There are virtually no manufacturers that allow non-dealers to perform recall and warranty work today.
Federal regulations (primarily under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act) require automakers to provide a remedy for safety defects at no cost to the consumer. Automakers fulfill that obligation by designating “authorized” service locations—almost ALWAYS their franchised dealerships or manufacturer-owned service centers—to perform the recall repairs.
From a practical standpoint dealerships are bound by their franchise agreements with the manufacturer. Those contracts typically require authorized dealers to perform warranty and recall work on behalf of the automaker. So, while the government obligates the manufacturer to fix the defect, the manufacturer in turn relies on its dealerships (as spelled out in their franchise agreements) to handle the actual repairs.
Don’t we already have that? I imagine the dealerships already use such a system.
Not for recalls. It’s easy for folks to sit on social media and assume any mechanic can do it, but that’s not the case. The whole system would have to change. With the biggest being the requirement to track compliance with federally mandated recalls. There is no responsibility of the mechanic to report completion of a repair, nor certification regarding efficacy.
Edit: I actually just re-read your question. I thought you meant brands, but you said dealerships. So… your argument for bypassing dealerships is to use dealerships?
There isn’t some recall reporting system? That would be surprising to me, I’m pretty sure I’ve been able to look up recall status on my car before (not that any have applied so far).
There is. It uses dealerships. This is my entire point.
So we do just need to give non-dealership mechanics access.
There is that word “just” again. You need to require them to report completion and to certify efficacy. Are you going to also require car brands to honor warranty repairs completed by a third party mechanic? What I’m attempting to point out to you is that this all requires a network and established agreements, not “just” some ad-hoc repair services.
I don’t see how an independent mechanic would be less likely to report completion of a recall repair than a dealership. It sounds like a similar process to safety and emissions inspections and service.
If they need to be Toyota-certified or something to do recalls, then great. Even better if that lets them do warranty work.
Because it’s the manufacturers RESPONSIBILITY. Not the local mechanics’.
What is so difficult about this?