General Motors has strengthened its requirement on the use of genuine OEM parts when repairing vehicles equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in the United States, explicitly prohibiting aftermarket, recycled and other secondary-market ADAS components in collision repairs.
In a Collision Position Statement issued earlier this year, GM said the operational integrity of ADAS features depended on maintaining the original design specifications of the vehicle, including the design, performance and precise placement of sensors and associated components.
The manufacturer said only new GM Genuine ADAS components were approved for collision repairs involving its vehicles. This requirement covers components including radars, cameras, sensors, control modules, wiring, brackets and mounting hardware.
GM went further by stating the use of salvaged, recycled, reconditioned, remanufactured, aftermarket or other secondary-market ADAS radars, cameras, sensors and related components was “strictly prohibited” for collision repairs.
The vehicle manufacturer claims the position reflects the increasing importance of ADAS technology in modern collision repair, where replacing a component can be only one part of restoring a vehicle correctly. Calibration, component positioning and adherence to manufacturer repair procedures can be critical to ensuring systems operate as originally intended.
GM said genuine parts were designed, engineered, tested and validated, with many components effectively operating as safety features. Technologies involved in crash avoidance, driver awareness and occupant protection must be restored to their pre-loss condition using GM-approved repair and calibration procedures.
The statement covers a broad range of systems, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision alert, automatic high beam, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, front pedestrian braking, surround vision, side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, automatic parking assist and Super Cruise.
GM warned that non-genuine ADAS components could have been subjected to previous collisions, improper storage or handling, or non-approved manufacturing and reconditioning processes. They may also fail to meet GM's original design specifications.
According to GM, these factors have the potential to compromise system reliability, calibration accuracy and, in some circumstances, vehicle safety performance.
The company says its position also extends beyond replacement parts. GM warned repairers and vehicle owners that modifications affecting ride height, wheel alignment, steering, suspension or vehicle dynamics could degrade ADAS functionality. Accessories including protective films, wraps, window tint, push bars, bicycle and cargo racks, light bars and oversized roof cargo could also interfere with ADAS performance, it said.
GM has declared there are also potential warranty implications. GM said damage, failure or non-performance arising from non-GM parts, accessories or modifications was not covered under its New Vehicle Limited Warranty or service plans.
The manufacturer said maintaining warranty coverage required collision, structural and system-dependent repairs to use GM OE parts and GM-approved procedures.