Fake car parts are life-threatening, experts warned (Picture: John Lamb/Getty Images)
Millions of ‘dangerous’ counterfeit car parts end up on UK roads every year, including black market airbags and batteries.
Despite being a core part of the car, spotting fake ones is not always easy as they have been made to look like the real deal.
But unlike genuine parts, counterfeits are likely not safety tested and the materials could be inferior.
The most commonly purchased counterfeit items are tyres, wheels, airbags and brakes – all critical for safety.
Motorists often found out during servicing that they have accidentally bought a fake car part (Picture: Getty Images)
And the problem appears to be widespread as figures from the OECD reveal that almost £1,000,000,000 worth of fake car parts were imported to the UK in a year.
Fake parts could fail to function as they should in a crash, putting lives at risk, experts warned.
It comes after a survey revealed that one in six car owners said they had bought a counterfeit part in the past year.
DCI Emma Warbey, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit at City of London Police, said: ‘Counterfeiting safety-critical car components like tyres, wheels, airbags and brakes demonstrates the lengths that criminals will go to make money and their disregard for the safety of the people who will end up using these products.
‘Our officers recently seized 500 counterfeit car airbags, which could have put motorists at risk, during an operation in east London.
‘Fake airbags aren’t manufactured to industry standards, so there’s a real possibility that they won’t inflate during a road traffic collision, or will deploy in error.
‘We know that the offer of a good deal can be enticing, but it’s vital to know how to spot the signs of a counterfeit car part and to buy from a reputable seller.’
Now the government has launched a campaign to help motorists spot counterfeit items.
The ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign launched by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) warns motorists of the life-threatening dangers of counterfeits.
How to spot a fake car part
Here are the top five tips how to avoid ending up with fake parts in your car.
Low price – If it’s too low, it should be a red flag
The seller – If you don’t know the company selling the product, do some digging on them, including previous customer reviews
Check the spec – Fake parts are often ‘one size fits all’ and not made for your car. Installing them could be dangerous and cause irreversible damage
Look for proof – Genuine parts will have a certificate of Original Equipment which fakes won’t have
Report suspected counterfeits – Selling counterfeits is illegal and anyone peddling them can be reported to the independent charity Crimestoppers
With the cost of living crisis, buying a cheaper fake product might feel like an easy solution.
The IPO commissioned research of 1,394 UK motorists and found that three-fifths (58%) who bought cheap parts admitted doing so knowing that the part was fake.
Getting parts for a lower price was a significant factor, with three in ten (31%) saying cost saving was a reason. A third of those who knew they were getting a fake said they did so because they felt there was no major difference in appearance.
Those who bought counterfeits unknowingly often find it out later.
More than two in five drivers (45%) who unknowingly did so found out from their garage after the part had faulted, including some during routine service checks (30%).
However, as the winter driving conditions approach, it is ‘now more important than ever to highlight the dangers of fakes to motorists,’ the IPO’s deputy director of enforcement Miles Rees said.
He said: ‘Fake car parts are illegal to sell and are very dangerous for motorists and other road users. While they may look the same, they are often made from inferior materials and are not safety tested. This increases the risk of failure and can lead to life-changing or life-ending consequences – a risk not worth taking.’
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