Trump Signals Automakers Could Control Vehicle Repairs - Is This Legal?
President Donald Trump shocked the auto industry recently when he announced that two of the nation's top automakers are pushing for legislation that would limit the ability of car owners to fix their own vehicles, requiring them to visit a dealer for repairs instead. Do these claims have any merit? Read on for the details.
Could Automakers Limit Who Repairs Vehicles?
President Trump was holding an event at the White House focused on upgrades to coal power plants when he dropped a surprise claim regarding the auto industry. During the June 4 event in the Oval Office, the president said that executives with Ford and General Motors (GM) are asking for legislation that would stop consumers from repairing their own vehicles.
According to Trump, the meeting included leaders from Ford and GM, in addition to Penske Corporation Chairman Roger Penske. Trump told those gathered in the Oval Office that even he thought the request was odd, noting that he had never heard of such an ask.
The president did not elaborate on the specifics of the proposed legislation. The White House has also not confirmed a specific plan. As such, the only information available is what Trump revealed at the June 4 meeting about an entirely different topic.
Auto industry experts have expressed skepticism that two of the nation's most prominent automakers would lobby to make it more difficult for car owners to work on their own vehicles. However, the comments from the president are not completely unfounded. At the heart of the issue is what is known as the right-to-repair legislation.
The debate surrounds the complications that have unfolded as vehicles become more technical. The increased digitization of automobiles has added another layer of difficulty to what used to be basic repairs. The tension comes between the automakers who push for more modernization and the mechanics who fix the vehicles.
Automakers contend that they are the ones with access to the complicated software systems and diagnostic data. Giving consumers and independent repair shops this access could create security and privacy concerns. In short, the automakers believe that locking down this information is actually a good thing for vehicle owners.
However, consumer advocacy groups and independent repair shops have a different opinion. These parties believe that greater access to vehicle data will keep repair costs down. They believe that the vehicle owner loses power when only the dealer has access to the technical systems.
The president also raised concern when he noted that a person who repaired his own vehicle was ordered to seven years in prison. It should be noted that Trump never offered concrete details about the legal case that he was referencing. Without context, it is impossible to evaluate the claim.
Response from the Automakers
Ford has confirmed that they did participate in a recent meeting with the White House. The company said that Andrew Frick, leader of the Ford Blue and Ford Model e divisions, attended a meeting with the Trump administration about vehicle repair concerns on June 3. However, Ford did not provide any details beyond the confirmation of attendance at a meeting.
Critics of the White House say that the secrecy around the issue should be a concern. It is always alarming when an automaker confirms that there were discussions, yet does not elaborate on what was discussed. It is easy to see why consumer advocacy groups are jumping to conclusions.
As it stands now, federal law protects the right of the consumer to choose who works on their vehicle. This protection is offered under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. The act states that a manufacturer cannot void a vehicle warranty because the owner used an independent mechanic for a repair. However, there is an exception to this protection. If the independent repair shop causes damage to the car, or if the use of aftermarket parts in turn breaks the vehicle, the automaker has the right to deny coverage for that specific issue.
Whether this idea floated by Trump has any merit is still unclear. What is clear is that any legislation that would limit the rights of vehicle owners to repair their cars with independent shops could have vast financial consequences on both consumers and vehicle repair centers not affiliated with a specific automaker. But at this time, it is important to remember that there is no proposed legislation in writing. Until then, car owners would be wise to monitor the situation.
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